Roll of Honor
Incident
Governor Pat Neff made prohibition a top priority and wanted the Texas Rangers to stem the number of liquor stills. Governor Neff had Dick Watson, an undercover agent, sent into Somervell County. Watson was acting as a special prohibition enforcement officer under the direction of Texas Rangers. By August 1923 Watson had enough evidence. Rangers organized a posse of area lawmen and made the raids, destroying 23 stills and arresting 50 men. One moonshiner was killed in a shootout.
Rangers organized another undercover operation in the Corsicana oil fields in Navarro County to shut down vice dens. Watson acted as the undercover officer. In February 1924 lawmen arrested scores of gamblers and bootleggers. Although later denied by local officials, Ranger Marvin “Red” Burton’s personal notes indicated that Watson started working as a plainclothes detective for the Corsicana Police Department about two weeks before his death.
The trial of the County Attorney in Somervell County started in February 1924 and Watson was the state’s principal witness. During the trial Rangers Burton and R.D. Shumate were staying with Watson at a Cleburne hotel. After his testimony, the rangers decided to take Watson to a Glen Rose boardinghouse for his safety. Watson went to visit a friend nearby. As Ranger Burton was talking to a man on the town square he heard a shotgun blast. The ranger found Watson dead on the floor. Two assailants had fired a shotgun through the closed window. The blast struck Watson in the face and neck, killing him. Fifteen or more people were arrested and six men were charged with the murder of Watson; however, no one was ever indicted.
Prohibition Officer Watson was a WWI veteran.
Watson is buried in the Marystown Cemetery in Johnson County.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two-year old son.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-TX-43E3020B- Stewardship
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- 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 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.
Prohibition Officer Watson gave the Texas Rangers 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Austin 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
James Aaron "Dick" Watson served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Prohibition Officer James Aaron "Dick" Watson 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Texas Rangers, 104 of 122 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 85.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Aaron "Dick" Watson's cause is highlighted.
How James Aaron "Dick" Watson Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Aaron "Dick" Watson is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Aaron "Dick" Watson was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
121 officers from Texas Rangers are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
