Roll of Honor
Incident
On Monday, December 17, 1888 prior to 2:00 p.m., Sheriff Marion D. Wallace and Deputy T. B. Collier went to the Denson farm to arrest Boone Marlow. The officers held a warrant for Boone Marlow charging him with the murder of James Wesley Holston in Wilbarger County, Texas. At the command of Deputy Collier to throw up his hands, Boone Marlow fired a shot from his Winchester rifle. The shot struck Sheriff Wallace below the heart, mortally wounding him. Boone Marlow escaped from the scene. Sheriff Wallace died from the bullet wound one week later on Monday, December 24, 1888. The Texas Governor offered a $200 reward, dead or alive for Boone Marlow. The citizens of Young County added another $1,500 to the reward. In January of 1889, Boone Marlow was shot and killed on Hell Creek in Indian Territory. Three men brought Boone Marlow's body back to Graham where the reward was promptly paid. Marion D. Wallace was elected sheriff of Young County on November 4, 1884, and re-elected on November 2, 1886 and November 6, 1888. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and four daughters. They are buried in Section 12, Oak Grove Cemetery, Graham, Texas. The story of Boone Marlow and his four brothers has been chronicled in the book, "The Fighting Marlows: Men Who Wouldn't Be Lynched," by Glenn Shirley, and glamorized in the movie, "The Sons of Katie Elder," starring John Wayne.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two sons, and four daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-D3DA8F56- 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
138 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Wallace gave the Young County Sheriff's Office 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Graham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Marion Dekalb Wallace 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 Young County Sheriff's Office, 7 of 7 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. Marion Dekalb Wallace's cause is highlighted.
How Marion Dekalb Wallace Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Marion Dekalb Wallace is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Marion Dekalb Wallace was killed by rifle.
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Young County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
