Roll of Honor
Incident
Joe Beckham was elected the first sheriff of Motley County in February of 1891 and re-elected in November of 1892. He was drinking and gambling and was soon indicted for embezzling county funds. In June of 1893, County Commissioner George W. Cook and Sheriff Beckham got into a shootout in neighboring Childress County and both were indicted. Cook was acquitted and Beckham was freed for lack of evidence. The County Commissioners declared the position vacant and a new sheriff was appointed. Cook was elected Sheriff in November of 1894.
Beckham received a change of venue to Baylor County on his embezzling charge and Sheriff Cook traveled by train to Seymour to testify against him. Beckham was waiting for Sheriff Cook and shot him twice with a .45 caliber pistol. Sheriff Cook was shot through the arm, bowels and near the left nipple. Beckham jumped on his horse and fled. Sheriff Cook was taken back to Matador in Motley County where he died the next day.
Beckham fled and commenced a campaign of robbing and killing in Greer County in the Indian Territory. In December of 1895 a posse composed of Texas Rangers and the Wilbarger County, Texas sheriff and his deputies, surrounded Beckham and his gang. After a five hour shootout, Beckham was killed.
Cook was most likely buried in an unmarked grave in the East Mound Cemetery in Matador in Motley County.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-BFF45598- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
131 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Cook served with the Motley County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Matador community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff George W. Cook 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 97,772 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Motley County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. George W. Cook's cause is highlighted.
How George W. Cook Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. George W. Cook is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. George W. Cook was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Motley County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
