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William R. Brannon
Incident
Guard William R. Brannon was shot and killed by a 20-year-old inmate during an escape at the Noma Road Prison. The suspect managed to overpower another guard and take his shotgun as he and five more inmates ran to and drove away in a prison road truck. The suspect shot Guard Brannon in the abdomen as he attempted to stop the escape. Guard Brannon managed to return fire wounding one of the inmates. Within 24 hours five were captured. The sixth inmate was captured a few days later. Guard Brannon's killer, serving three years for breaking and entering, was shot twice and seriously wounded when he opened fire on officers who surrounded him in a cane field. He was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to life. On May 17, 1951, he escaped from a prison work crew. On December 23, 1951, a Florida ex-convict was arrested in Bainbridge, Georgia, after he and another man were caught in the act of trying to crack a safe inside a tire store they had broken into. The other man who escaped was Guard Brannon's killer. An investigation revealed they were responsible for several safe crackings in several North Florida cities. He was captured in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 15, 1953. On April 18, 1953, he escaped from a prison work farm but was captured the next day. On October 24, 1953, he made his 4th escape from a prison work crew. On December 24, 1953, he was captured in New Orleans. He was paroled in 1957; violated his parole a few days later and was returned to prison. He was paroled again in 1960. In 1972 he requested to be released from parole supervision, that was denied. Members of the Florida legislature questioned why he was out of prison in the first place, since he had violated his parole several times since his release in 1960.
In Our Keeping
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- 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.
Guard Brannon served with the Florida State Road Department.
Thank you for your service to the Tallahassee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Brannon.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Florida State Road Department - State Convict Road Force has lost 6 officers; 6 of them killed feloniously.
William is one of 536 officers killed feloniously in FL, 53.3% of the 1,006 remembered there.
William is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
William 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 1948, 1 officer at Florida State Road Department - State Convict Road Force was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 5 years on record. The heaviest was 1953, with 2.
In 1948, 1 officer in FL was killed feloniously, the 114th heaviest of 143 years on record. The heaviest was 1987, with 10.
In 1948, 80 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 84th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1948, 81 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 87th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
William was 56. Of the 5 killed feloniously at Florida State Road Department - State Convict Road Force whose age is recorded, half were between 54 and 59; the middle age was 56.
William was 56. Of the 496 killed feloniously in FL whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 44.3; the middle age was 36.
William was 56. 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.
William was 56. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
August holds 33.3% of these deaths at Florida State Road Department - State Convict Road Force, more than any other month. Fridays: 33.3%.
August holds 9.7% of these deaths in FL; April holds the most, 10.1%. Fridays: 13.2%.
August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
August holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 100% of all 6 deaths at Florida State Road Department - State Convict Road Force. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 33.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.3% of all 1,006 deaths in FL, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 9% 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 shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 6.3% of these deaths.
His people
Florida State Road Department - State Convict Road Force has 6 officers remembered here, William among them.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 62-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Florida State Road Department - State Convict Road Force are honored on badge.nw.
