Incident
Deputy Warden D.C. Oates, Sergeant Fred Godfrey, and Correctional Officer Herman H. Drover were shot and killed at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary by three prisoners who were attempting to escape. A former Oklahoma congressman visiting the prison was also killed and three others were shot and wounded.
No one seemed to know exactly how, but each of the three prisoners had obtained a revolver. As they ran towards the front gate they shot everyone they saw and begged other inmates to join them, but no other inmates did. As they reached the front gate and fled outside guards opened fire on the escapees, killing all three.
Deputy Warden Oates had been with the agency for seven years and was survived by his wife and five children.
Survivors
Deputy Warden Oates had been with the agency for seven years and was survived by his wife and five children.
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Warden Oates gave the Oklahoma Department of Corrections 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Oklahoma. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Warden Oates.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Oklahoma Department of Corrections has lost 19 officers; 14 of them killed feloniously.
D. is one of 403 officers killed feloniously in OK, 69.2% of the 582 remembered there.
D. is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
D. is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1914, 3 officers at Oklahoma Department of Corrections were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1914, 5 officers in OK were killed feloniously, the 26th heaviest of 114 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 15.
In 1914, 127 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 37th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1914, 127 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 45th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
D. was 43. Of the 11 killed feloniously at Oklahoma Department of Corrections whose age is recorded, half were between 36.5 and 49.5; the middle age was 46. D. had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
D. was 43. Of the 335 killed feloniously in OK whose age is recorded, half were between 34 and 49; the middle age was 42. D. had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
D. was 43. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. D. had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
D. was 43. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. D. had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
January holds 28.6% of these deaths at Oklahoma Department of Corrections, more than any other month. Mondays: 28.6%.
January holds 9.4% of these deaths in OK; June holds the most, 11.4%. Mondays: 12.7%.
January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.
January holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Mondays: 13.8%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 73.7% of all 19 deaths at Oklahoma Department of Corrections, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; revolver, in 14.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 69.2% of all 582 deaths in OK, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; revolver, in 1.2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; revolver, in 0.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; revolver, in 0.8% of these deaths.
His people
Oklahoma Department of Corrections has 19 officers remembered here, D. among them.
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Herman H. Drover
Jan 19, 1914
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Fred C. Godfrey
Jan 19, 1914
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D. C. Oates
Jan 19, 1914
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William Robert Mayfield Jan 20, 1926
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James Payton Jones Feb 17, 1935
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William C. Turner Jul 18, 1935
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Charles D. Powell May 13, 1936
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Jess Dunn
Aug 10, 1941
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W. H. Riley Dec 13, 1943
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W. H. Aston Aug 4, 1948
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Albert Jerald Cox
Mar 5, 1977
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Raymond L. Chandler Dec 18, 1980
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Rex Thompson
Sep 1, 1981
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Eugene L. Young
Jul 28, 1989
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Kenneth Denton
Aug 3, 1989
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Joe Allen Gamble
Jun 6, 2000
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Jeffery Matthew McCoy
May 18, 2012
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Stephen Roshawn Jenkins, Sr.
Jan 7, 2017
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Robert William Sumner
Jul 14, 2024
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 10-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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