Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI, Inc. 2005 Interview of Family Members of Special Agent of the FBI Robert Porter (1967-1979) Interviewed by Clarence H. Campbell On Edited for repetitions, spelling, etc. by Sandra Robinette on February 17, 2005 Edited with clarifications from the family on March 21, 2005. Today is August the 9 th 2004, the 20 th, 25 th anniversary of the El Centro Resident Agency shootings of Special Agents Robert Porter and Charles Elmore. My name is Special Agent Clarence H. Campbell and I ll be interviewing various members of the Porter family who are here in San Diego at the FBI building dedicated to the names, or memories of Bob Porter and Chuck Elmore. This is Special Agent Larry Campbell and we have just concluded a memorial service here at the San Diego Office for remembering Special Agents Bob Porter and Chuck Elmore and we have the privilege of speaking with Valerie Porter who was the daughter of Bob and she d like to say a few words now for our FBI audience. Thank You. 18. Oh. Valerie. You re currently living in Arizona now with your family? How old were you at the time of the shooting on August 9 th of 1979? You were 18 years old. And, if it s not too difficult, I d like to just kind of, share anything you d like about that day or, subsequent days that you feel would be pertinent. I was actually out of the state at the time. I was up in Utah, visiting my cousin and was going to help her drive her car back down to Arizona and then go back to El Centro. So, I just remember right about the time of the shooting I felt a tremendous homesickness as I was getting ready for the day. We were going to go on to the campus of the college that day and I started to cry. She didn t know what was going on. I just felt this tremendous homesickness, like I needed to be home right then. And then it slowly passed. 1
Page 2 I was in a campus movie theater with my cousin, Pam, watching a movie and somebody came to get me. I didn t know who it was. After the movie as we exited the room, I see a friend of ours standing there and I just remember him taking me to the airport. The police had held back everybody on the plane, and that was embarrassing but I just remember getting on the plane, coming down to LA and then taking the Cochise airline down into El Centro and feeling so overwhelmed and sad. As soon as I got there, the support from my family and the FBI family was tremendous and there was really no need to fear. We were surrounded with love and friendship and kindness. The minute that I stepped off the plane that night, after the morning that it occurred, I felt comfortable and relaxed and well taken care of. We had so much support from everyone. It was great seeing all of the law enforcement agents from all over the United States. There were people representing so many different facets of law enforcement. They had over a thousand people at the funeral, in my memory, and it was very official, and well done. He was honored. And that always makes you feel good. We always knew that there was a chance that he could die in line of duty and so you re always a little bit prepared for it. But to see the show of support and friendship and love it was fantastic and that helped, you know, through the ensuing days. That was my most important impression during that day. Thank you Valerie. Mom. We have now Mrs. Flora Porter who is the wife and widow of Bob Porter and she just gave a very memorable speech here at the talk. About the FBI family, what it meant to her. I was wondering Mrs. Porter, if you have anything you d like to say just concerning today s ceremonies or that memorable day, or back in, 25 years ago, or whatever you d like to share. 2
Page 3 Flora Porter: Flora Porter: Well, I don t want to dwell on that day 25 years ago because even though it s a long time past, it s still not a very pleasant day to remember. But it did change a lot of lives and it changed ours. I am so grateful to be a part of this remembrance today because it s been wonderful. The turnout was great. It s just good to be around friends again and I appreciate that and the fact that there s been so many people that do remember and have opened their hearts and their memories. Just to welcome us back into this community, it s been a real pleasure. I just want everybody who s listening to this or will hear this, to know how much I love the FBI and the work that they do. I hope it will always be able to continue and they ll always be revered for the great law enforcement agency they are. Thank you. Thank you Flora. I was curious and what I always ask this of people. What was your husband s most endearing quality to you as a husband and as a father of your children and so forth? Is there one particular attribute that stands out? The fact that he loved people and he showed his love of people to his family and his friends. He could just communicate with anybody or anything. After this tragic event in the office there in El Centro in 1979, I had one good friend who had known Bob for many years say that if Bob had just had time to sit down with him and talk to him for half an hour, the guy s life would have changed and this tragedy would have never occurred. Thank you very much. Appreciate your coming by today. The next person you ll hear from is Ken Porter. A Supervisory Special Agent, who was the 16-years-old son of Bob Porter, at the time of the shooting. Ken has flown out here for the memorial service. Ken, would you like to say a few words? 3
Page 4 Kenneth Porter: Sure. I ll say a few words about the events of August 9 th and our life since then. And even maybe a little bit about our life before then. I certainly remember my father enjoying the work that he did and loving his job. Being able to work with people on a daily basis; being able to try to make society a little bit better; trying to defend the Constitution in accordance with the oath that he had taken as a Special Agent, were things that he held, he held dear to his heart and took it very seriously. But then, in the same vein, he didn t sacrifice his family at the expense of his job. I remember him as a good father. He wasn t a perfect man, of course, but he was an excellent father. As an only son, he taught me a lot about being a man and about life, in the few short years that we had together. Of course, I was 16, as you had mentioned, when he died. But, once again, I mean, my, my recollection was that he loved his job, that he loved his family, he loved his wife, he loved his country and he was a very religious man, as well. He loved his God and he lived his religion daily. He wasn t just what should I say it wasn t just something that he put on and took off; it was something that he wore every day. He never discouraged me from following in his footsteps. Of course, being only 16, I wasn t really that concerned about my future career. But seeing what he did and seeing the enjoyment that he got from it, I think led to me really exploring the FBI when I got older. And certainly his example and his experience helped prod me to join the FBI; a decision that I have not regretted a day since. It s been a wonderful career. My family has both benefited, of course, and has suffered because of the events of August 9 th 1979. I think we ve, we ve become stronger as a family. However, it s also been tough. 4
Page 5 I mean every day is tough, knowing that he s not there for my kids or my other sisters who have children. Those children have never known their grandfather. My father was not there when we graduated from high school; he wasn t there when we got married; he hasn t been there for any of the important dates or functions of our lives, which is hard to take. But we know we re not alone, you know, there s other families who suffer as well. The fact that the Bureau remembers them has certainly been a strength to us. The fact that the San Diego Office, in particular, has remembered us through the years, has been very comforting. And, you know, being a part of the FBI family since I was four years old has certainly been a great part of my life. In fact, I would never, I ll never regret now I ll miss it when it comes time for me to say goodbye to it. I m not sure if there s anything else that you would want me to add other than the Bureau s been supportive; the Bureau s been a great organization to work for. Kenneth Porter: Thank you very much and we ll certainly remember you and your dad as long as we re alive. Thank you. 5