Felix Davidson

Clay County Sheriff's Office — Manchester, KY

Felonious

End of Watch May 25, 1900

The Vigil Panel 16 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 8

Incident

Deputy Felix Davidson succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained one week earlier while attempting to arrest a man who had been in town with his gun.

The suspect shot Deputy Davidson once in the chest, causing a serious wound. The man then turned himself in to the county jailer. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to 14 years. The suspect, Millard Philpot, was pardoned by the governor after serving only a few months. He was later elected sheriff of Clay County. He was shot and killed February 1, 1920.

Deputy Davidson died as a result of the Philpot-Griffin Feud. There were many feuds in Kentucky, and information about many officers who lost there lives as a result of a feud was often confusing, contradictory, and refuted by others.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-C3F59AA2
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 Davidson served with the Clay County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Manchester community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Davidson.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Clay County Sheriff's Office

Location Manchester, KY

Platform Identity ccso.clay.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 25, 1900

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .45 caliber

Offender Sentenced to 14 years

Deputy Sheriff Felix Davidson 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 22.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Clay County Sheriff's Office, 8 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 88.9% of this agency's fallen.

Clay County Sheriff's Office

of 9 officers

88.9% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious