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Oliver Holmes Cornelius
Incident
Investigator Oliver Cornelius suffered a fatal heart attack while raiding a still approximately six miles south of Featherston, Oklahoma. He and another investigator had arrested a suspect and were using an axe to destroy a 40-gallon still when he suddenly collapsed. On January 20, 1921, his brother, SpecialOfficer Frank Cornelius, was shot and killed in the line of duty. Investigator Cornelius was a United States Army WWI and WWII veteran and a U.S. Army Reserve veteran. He had served with the Alcohol Tax Unit for 18 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, brother, and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Investigator Cornelius gave the United States Department of the Treasury 18 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Oliver Holmes Cornelius served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Cardiac
United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit has lost 30 officers; 7 of them lost to cardiac events.
Oliver is one of 71 officers lost to cardiac events in DC, 5% of the 1,419 remembered there.
Oliver is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Oliver is one of 1,309 officers lost to cardiac events worldwide, 3.8% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1950, 1 officer at United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit was lost to cardiac events, the 2nd heaviest of 6 years on record. The heaviest was 1948, with 2.
In 1950, 1 officer in DC was lost to cardiac events, the 19th heaviest of 48 years on record. The heaviest was 1945, with 3.
In 1950, 11 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 54th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
In 1950, 11 officers worldwide were lost to cardiac events, the 54th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
Who
Oliver was 53. Of the 7 lost to cardiac events at United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit whose age is recorded, half were between 46 and 52; the middle age was 50. Oliver had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 17 years.
Oliver was 53. Of the 69 lost to cardiac events in DC whose age is recorded, half were between 41 and 51; the middle age was 46. Oliver had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
Oliver was 53. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48. Oliver had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
Oliver was 53. Of the 1,251 lost to cardiac events worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 42.5 and 55; the middle age was 48. Oliver had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
When
February holds 14.3% of these deaths at United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit, more than any other month. Mondays: 28.6%.
February holds 8.5% of these deaths in DC; May holds the most, 12.7%. Mondays: 18.3%.
February holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Mondays: 12.9%.
February holds 8% of these deaths worldwide; January holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13%.
How
Cardiac deaths account for 23.3% of all 30 deaths at United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit, the 3rd most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 5% of all 1,419 deaths in DC, the 4th most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 3.8% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 4th most common cause.
His people
United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit has 30 officers remembered here, Oliver among them.
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William Roy Blandford
May 12, 1934
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Robert C. Nickerson Apr 11, 1935
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William Rowland Braden Jul 22, 1935
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William Louis Pappan
Dec 4, 1935
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John Ruskin Foster
May 14, 1936
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Donald C. Cleveland Nov 22, 1936
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William Thomas Butler Jan 7, 1937
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Wilford Winn Thomasson
Feb 14, 1937
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William James Tennis Sep 28, 1937
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William Edward Smith Dec 25, 1937
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William Joseph Jackson, Jr.
Mar 8, 1938
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William Franklin Berry
Mar 18, 1938
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James Logan Molloy
Jan 31, 1939
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Benjamin Richard Smallwood Jul 14, 1939
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Norval Lee DeArmond Jan 1, 1940
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Elvis Wesley Myrick Apr 3, 1940
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Samuel Leeper Jul 31, 1940
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Walter C. Guinn Jan 28, 1941
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Robert Richard Evans Apr 19, 1941
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Roy Neil Griffin
Aug 18, 1941
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Frederick Lewis Regan Sep 28, 1941
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William Milton Pugh
Nov 21, 1941
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Randall Oakes Younger
Jun 1, 1943
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Melvin John Clark Jun 17, 1947
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Jesse Wilburn Jones
Mar 3, 1948
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William Honkala Mar 7, 1948
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Milton Henry Rogers
Jul 12, 1948
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Merimon Hampton Barnes Apr 24, 1949
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Earl Raymond Harrouff Jan 12, 1950
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Oliver Holmes Cornelius
Feb 20, 1950
Where
Military Service
Oliver Holmes Cornelius served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit Oliver Holmes Cornelius’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 31-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
29 officers from United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
