In Memoriam
Sheriff John B. York
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Deputy R.W. (Dick) Townsend
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Deputy Hamil P. ScottMay 1, 1907 Hamil P. Scott was born in Smith County, Virginia. His family moved to a farm north of Fort Worth in 1872. Prior to his employment at the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, he was an express manager for the Fort Worth and Denver Railroad, where he was involved in several gunfights with train robbers. Hamil Scott also nearly burned to death in a derailed, overturned train. Scott left the Fort Worth and Denver Railroad and served the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office for a period of ten years. After that, Scott became a Claims Agent for the Fort Worth and Denver Railroad, which led to his commission as a special Deputy by the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office. On Friday, March 22, 1907 about 5:00 p.m., Deputy Scott was returning from the Annual Fort Worth Fat Stock Show, in Niles City, where the present day Fort Worth Stockyards are located. It has been speculated that Deputy Scott was probably working security at the Fort Worth Fat Stock Show. As Deputy Scott came into downtown Fort Worth, he observed the murder of Tarrant County Attorney Jefferson McLean. William Thomason shot County Attorney McLean point blank in the throat because of McLean’s efforts to clean up local gambling halls. A citizen recognized Hamil Scott as a local peace officer and informed him of the suspect’s direction of escape. Without hesitation, Deputy Scott went in pursuit of the killer - running into an alley between Houston and Throckmorton Streets. Suspect Thomason saw Deputy Scott in close pursuit and ran into another alley off Seventh Street. The suspect hid behind some packing boxes and waited to ambush Deputy Scott. As Deputy Scott entered the alley Thomason shot him in the arm, causing Deputy Scott to drop his pistol. Thomason fired a second shot, hitting Deputy Scott in the spinal cord, paralyzing him from the chest down. He then took Scott’s pistol and fled the scene. Other law enforcement officers shot and apprehended suspect Thomason in a lumberyard. Suspect Thomason died from his wounds within days. Deputy Scott lingered near death for almost six weeks before succumbing to his gunshot wounds on May 1,1907. Deputy Scott was survived by his wife Margaret Campbell Scott. It was reported the citizens of Tarrant County were deeply touched by the death of Deputy Scott and closed all Tarrant County offices, as well as many businesses, to attend the large funeral.
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Deputy Malcom S. Davis
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Deputy Clark Rosenbalm Jr.
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Deputy Frank HowellNovember 3, 1986 Deputy Frank D. Howell was born in July 1948, and was an active member in the community for many years. Deputy Howell was a 15-year veteran of law enforcement, starting his career at the age of 17 as a police dispatcher for the City of Lake Worth. During his law enforcement career, Deputy Howell worked as a police officer for Watauga, Richland Hills, Forest Hill, Benbrook and Tarrant County Constable’s Office. Deputy Howell also served three years as a Municipal Judge in Saginaw. On November 3, 1986, Deputy Howell had been with the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office for one year as a Deputy serving criminal warrants. Deputy Howell noticed a suspicious vehicle parked in a lot behind the Veterans of Foreign Wars building at 400 West Felix in Fort Worth. While questioning the suspects to determine if a crime had occurred, Deputy Howell was shot and killed by one of the suspects. His murder sparked one of the largest and longest manhunts in Tarrant County history. The name of the prime suspect in the murder of Deputy Howell was immediately known because the suspect dropped his wallet at the crime scene. However, the suspect fled to Mexico before being apprehended. The suspect was captured ten years later, but the Government of Mexico refused to extradite the murder suspect to the United States since the State of Texas was seeking the death penalty. The suspect was convicted by a court in Mexico for the murder of Deputy Howell and sentenced to 40 years. Deputy Howell is survived by his wife and three children.
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Lieutenant Maurice HendrixSeptember 17, 1997 Lieutenant Maurice Hendrix was born in October 1945, and started his career at the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office in 1991 as a Detention Officer. Working his way up the chain of command, he became Lieutenant of the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Training Academy. Prior to his employment with the Sheriff’s Office, Lieutenant Hendrix had served several years active duty in the United States Army, receiving helicopter flight training. Lieutenant Hendrix had worked a variety of jobs, including one year as a patrol officer at the Euless Police Department and over five years with the Shreveport Police Department. At the time of his death, Lieutenant Hendrix was a Colonel in the United States Army Reserve. Lieutenant Hendrix and Criminal Investigator Deputy T.J. Smith were conducting a helicopter surveillance flight September 17, 1997, attempting to locate stolen motor vehicles in unincorporated areas of northern Tarrant County. During a take-off attempt, the helicopter crashed and both Lieutenant Hendrix and Deputy T.J. Smith were killed instantly. Lieutenant Hendrix is survived by his wife Marsha and their son Mark.
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Deputy Thomas Jay (T.J.) SmithSeptember 17, 1997 Detective Thomas Jay (T.J) Smith was born in November 1951, and was a 12-year veteran of the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office. Prior to his employment in 1985, Deputy Smith worked a variety of jobs, including five years as a Law Enforcement Specialist in the United States Air Force and several months at the River Oaks Police Department. During his career with the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Smith received numerous Letters of Commendation and worked in the Warrants Division and Criminal Investigations Division. Deputy Smith and Training Academy Lieutenant Maurice Hendrix were conducting a helicopter surveillance flight September 17, 1997, attempting to locate stolen motor vehicles in unincorporated areas of northern Tarrant County. During a take-off attempt, the helicopter crashed and both Lieutenant Hendrix and Deputy Smith were killed upon impact. Deputy T.J. Smith is survived by his wife Cathy and children. |