Roll of Honor
Incident
At 4:00 p.m., City Marshal Kirkland C. Ayers responded to a disturbance in a store/saloon in Whitesboro. While attempting to arrest two suspects, City Marshal Ayers was hit in the head with a chair. Ayers died from his injuries at 1:00 a.m. the next morning.
Pat Ware, and his brother, Spence, were both charged with the murder of Marshal Ayers. A Grayson County jury acquitted both brothers in April of 1880. Ayers, was survived by his mother who lived in LaGrange, Troup County, Georgia. His body was shipped by express train back to LaGrange for burial.
Pat Ware, and his brother, Spence, were both charged with the murder of Marshal Ayers. A Grayson County jury acquitted both brothers in April of 1880.
Ayers, was survived by his mother who lived in LaGrange, Troup County, Georgia. His body was shipped by express train back to LaGrange for burial.
Survivors
Ayers, was survived by his mother who lived in LaGrange, Troup County, Georgia.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-ADF070C2- 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
147 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
City Marshal Ayers served with the Whitesboro Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Whitesboro community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
City Marshal Kirkland C. Ayers 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 Whitewright Police 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. Kirkland C. Ayers's cause is highlighted.
How Kirkland C. Ayers Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Kirkland C. Ayers is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Kirkland C. Ayers was killed by blunt object; chair.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Whitewright Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
