Roll of Honor
Clarence Lee Ellison
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Lee Ellison was shot and killed while searching for a moonshine still in the mountains near his home in Roddy, Tennessee.
A large search for him was started the following day when he failed to return home. A blood-soaked handkerchief was found in the area he had told his wife he would be searching. His body was located one week later near a Southern Railroad trestle between Roddy and Glen Alice. An autopsy revealed that he had been shot 13 times.
Several men were arrested and charged with his murder. One, age 61, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. A second, age 21, was convicted of second-degree murder and was sentenced to 10 years. The suspect sentenced to life was pardoned by Governor Henry H. Horton on March 8, 1932, after the other suspect convinced the state attorney general that he was the killer.
Deputy Ellison was a WWI veteran. He was survived by his wife and children.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-A864270B- Stewardship
- 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 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.
Deputy Sheriff Ellison served with the Rhea County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Dayton community. Thank you 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
Clarence Lee Ellison served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Deputy Sheriff Clarence Lee Ellison is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 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 64.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Rhea County Sheriff's Department, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Clarence Lee Ellison's cause is highlighted.
How Clarence Lee Ellison Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Clarence Lee Ellison is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Clarence Lee Ellison was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Military Service
Clarence Lee Ellison served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit Clarence Lee Ellison’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Rhea County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
