Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Sam Tidwell was killed when his motorcycle was struck by a vehicle that was attempting to pass another vehicle at 11:15 a.m.
Deputy Tidwell was traveling east on Highway 4, one mile west of Donna, when he collided head-on with a vehicle that swerved into the passing lane. He was killed instantly.
The driver was initially charged with negligent homicide but was exonerated.
Deputy Tidwell was a United States World War I Army veteran and had served with the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office for five years. He previously served as a constable with the Weslaco Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-58E2C900- 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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Samuel is one person.
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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.
Deputy Sheriff Tidwell gave the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Edinburg 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
Samuel R. Tidwell served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Deputy Sheriff Samuel R. Tidwell is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.
In TX, 657 of 2,421 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 Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 6 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Samuel R. Tidwell's cause is highlighted.
How Samuel R. Tidwell Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Samuel R. Tidwell is highlighted in Jun.
Incident Location
Military Service
Samuel R. Tidwell served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit Samuel R. Tidwell’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
