Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy McCullough was shot and killed by a prisoner on a chain gang during an escape attempt. The prisoner had been sentenced to 30 days for stealing corn. The chain gang was passing the suspect's home when the suspect asked to be allowed to go inside and change. The request was granted and the suspect went into the home but emerged with a gun and opened fire, fatally wounding Deputy McCullough. The 18-year-old suspect who fled the scene was apprehended on May 26, 1939, in Salt Lake City, Utah by FBI agents. On June 17, 1939, the suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to 60 years in prison. On February 2, 1940, he escaped from the Coffee County Jail after he clubbed the Sheriff with a steel bar he pried off his cell door using metal slats from his cot. Two days earlier he was returned to the jail from the state prison, and there to remain pending the outcome of his appeal. He was captured several days later. The Tennessee Supreme Court refused to hear his appeal because of the escape. On June 10, 1949, Governor Gordon Browning commuted his sentence to 20 years.
Survivors
Deputy McCullough was survived by his wife and twelve children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-438B1D03- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff McCullough served with the Coffee County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Manchester community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff McCullough.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Ben McCullough is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ben McCullough's cause is highlighted.
How Ben McCullough Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 60 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ben McCullough is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ben McCullough was killed by gun; unknown type.