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William Howard Gudgell
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Howard Gudgell died from complications as a result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.
Deputy Gudgell had served with the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office for 18 years.
Beginning in early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country began to contract COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic. Due to the nature of their job, law enforcement officers were required to work and interact with the community even as the majority of the country was self-quarantined. As a result, hundreds of officers died from COVID-related illnesses and other complications.
Corrections agencies, in particular, suffered tremendous losses due to the constant and close proximity between the corrections officers and large inmate populations. Since March 2020, ODMP has verified that over 900 law enforcement officers have died as the result of a confirmed or presumed exposure while on duty and continues to work with hundreds of other agencies that have suffered a COVID-related death.
Visit ODMP's COVID-19 memorial listing every officer who has died as a result of a confirmed or presumed exposure.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Deputy Sheriff William Howard Gudgell died on September 17, 2021 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 72.
He is one of 885 officers honored here, and one of 5 at Tarrant County Sheriff's Office.
Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.
Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtp5a9j4vypf2qd2qq556- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- September 9, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Deputy Sheriff Gudgell gave the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fort Worth community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Gudgell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Illness
Tarrant County Sheriff's Office has lost 13 officers; 5 of them lost to illness.
William is one of 204 officers lost to illness in TX, 8.4% of the 2,423 remembered there.
William is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,552 remembered there.
William is one of 2,979 officers lost to illness worldwide, 8.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2021, 1 officer at Tarrant County Sheriff's Office was lost to illness, the 2nd heaviest of 3 years on record. The heaviest was 2020, with 3.
In 2021, 99 officers in TX were lost to illness, more than in any other year.
In 2021, 564 officers in the United States were lost to illness, more than in any other year.
In 2021, 566 officers worldwide were lost to illness, more than in any other year.
Who
William was 72. Of the 5 lost to illness at Tarrant County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 50 and 57; the middle age was 50. William had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 18 years.
William was 72. Of the 201 lost to illness in TX whose age is recorded, half were between 45 and 59; the middle age was 53. William had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 17 years.
William was 72. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. William had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
William was 72. Of the 2,916 lost to illness worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 56; the middle age was 49. William had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
When
September holds 40% of these deaths at Tarrant County Sheriff's Office; December holds the most, 40%. Fridays: 20%.
September holds 16.7% of these deaths in TX, more than any other month. Fridays: 12.7%.
September holds 11.2% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Fridays: 14.8%.
September holds 9.8% of these deaths worldwide; October holds the most, 12.6%. Fridays: 14.9%.
How
Illness deaths account for 38.5% of all 13 deaths at Tarrant County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 8.4% of all 2,423 deaths in TX, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 8.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 3rd most common cause.
His people
Tarrant County Sheriff's Office has 13 officers remembered here, William among them.
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John B. York
Aug 24, 1861
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Hamill Poston Scott May 1, 1907
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Malcolm S. Davis
Jan 6, 1933
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Clark M. Rosenbalm, Jr.
Dec 4, 1983
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Frank D. Howell
Nov 3, 1986
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George Maurice Hendrix, Jr.
Sep 17, 1997
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Thomas Jay Smith
Sep 17, 1997
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Richard Krieger Jul 28, 2019
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Charles Edward Holt, III
Sep 1, 2020
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Craig Lavorrowous King
Dec 19, 2020
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Jerry William Jones
Dec 23, 2020
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William Howard Gudgell
Sep 17, 2021
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Jason Stuart Jones
Apr 11, 2023
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Tarrant County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
