Joe Williams

Texas Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission — Austin, TX

Accident

End of Watch September 14, 1919

Age 50

The Vigil Panel 37 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Deputy Game Warden Joe Williams and Deputy Game Warden Harry Raymond drowned after being swept overboard while anchoring their department boat in advance of a hurricane.

Deputy Game Warden Williams and his assistant had been rescuing people from outlying islands near Aransas Pass, Texas. After anchoring their boat and going ashore the storm intensified causing them to go back to the boat to put out more anchors. At this time they were both swept overboard and drowned. Their bodies were recovered two days later.

Deputy Game Warden Williams was first buried in a mass grave on the beach near Sinton, San Patricio, Texas. However, the county sheriff recognized and identified Capt. Williams. His remains were reburied at Rose Hill Memorial Park in Corpus Christi.

Deputy Game Warden Williams was survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.

Survivors

Deputy Game Warden Williams was survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-B9AA7410
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Game Warden Williams served with the Texas Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission.
Thank you for your service to the Austin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Game Warden Williams.

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

Agency

Department Texas Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission

Type Other

Location Austin, TX

Platform Identity tgfoc.travis.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 14, 1919

Age 50

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Deputy Game Warden Joe Williams is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In TX, 657 of 2,422 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 27.1% of this state's fallen. That is 27.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Texas Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission, 3 of 4 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Texas Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission

of 4 officers

75% Accident

TX — Statewide

657

of 2,422 officers

27.1% Accident

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Accident