Orville Frank Aderholt, Sr.

Gastonia Police Department — Gastonia, NC

Felonious

End of Watch June 8, 1929

Age 54

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

The Vigil Panel 57 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Chief of Police Orville Aderholt was shot and killed during the Loray Mill Strike in Gastonia, North Carolina. Seven men from New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts had come to the town to agitate the strikers at the mill. The seven men were convicted of second-degree murder in connection with Chief Aderholt's death. Four of them were sentenced to 20 years in prison. Chief Aderholt had served with the Gastonia Police Department for at least 13 years. He was survived by his wife, three daughters, and three sons. He is buried in Hollywood Cemetery, Gastonia, North Carolina.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three daughters, and three sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NC-56141F01
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Aderholt gave the Gastonia Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Gastonia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Aderholt.

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

Agency

Department Gastonia Police Department

Location Gastonia, NC

Platform Identity gpd.gaston.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 8, 1929

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

Age 54

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to 20 years

Chief of Police Orville Frank Aderholt, Sr. 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 NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Gastonia Police Department, 3 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Gastonia Police Department

of 6 officers

50% Felonious

NC — Statewide

385

of 664 officers

58% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious