Incident
Game Warden Pilot Richard Varney drowned after his helicopter crashed into Maranacook Lake. He had just taken off from the lake base when the helicopter experienced a malfunction and crashed. He was able to exit the wreckage but drowned before rescuers could make it to his location. Game Warden Varney was a United States Air Force veteran and had served with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife - Warden Service for 16 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, two sons, two daughters, parents, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Air Force. One record, 2 gates. Richard is one person.
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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.
Game Warden Pilot Varney gave the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Augusta community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Richard E. Varney served in the U.S. Air Force (1950â1954) before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Accident
Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife - Warden Service has lost 16 officers; 8 of them lost to accidents.
Richard is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1972, 1 officer at Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife - Warden Service was lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 7 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 2.
In 1972, 98 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 23rd heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Richard was 41. Of the 8 lost to accidents at Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife - Warden Service whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 48.3; the middle age was 41.5. Richard had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 11 years.
Richard was 41. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Richard had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
September holds 12.5% of these deaths at Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife - Warden Service; July holds the most, 25%. Wednesdays: 12.5%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Wednesdays: 14.6%.
How
Accident deaths account for 50% of all 16 deaths at Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife - Warden Service, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife - Warden Service has 16 officers remembered here, Richard among them.
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Lyman O. Hill
Nov 8, 1886
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Charles W. Niles
Nov 8, 1886
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Arthur G. Deag
Jul 19, 1921
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Leslie Robinson Oct 8, 1921
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David F. Brown
Nov 14, 1922
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Mertley E. Johnston
Nov 14, 1922
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Lee H. Parker
Sep 1, 1927
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Ralph Stanley Cushman
Feb 26, 1931
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Jean Baptiste Jalbert
May 13, 1933
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Robert Lee Moore
Oct 22, 1935
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Randall E. Shelley
Jun 3, 1946
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George E. Townsend
Aug 27, 1956
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R. Lyle Frost, Jr.
Jul 1, 1968
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Richard E. Varney
Sep 27, 1972
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William F. Hanrahan
Nov 21, 1992
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Daryl Ray Gordon
Mar 25, 2011
Where
Military Service
Richard E. Varney served in the U.S. Air Force (1950–1954) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Richard E. Varney’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 38-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
15 officers from Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife - Warden Service are honored on badge.nw.













