Roll of Honor
Incident
Private Tom Goff was shot and killed while escorting a prisoner to the Texas Ranger's camp in Brewster County.
Private Goff had arrested the subject for creating a disturbance in a saloon in Terlingua, which is located in the Big Bend area of Brewster County. There was no jail in the town so Private Goff, who was on horseback, lead the prisoner up a steep mountainside back to the ranger camp. The prisoner started down a different trail and the Private Goff tried to move his horse in front of him. The horse fell on Private Goff, which allowed the prisoner to grab the ranger's Winchester rifle from its scabbard.
The man opened fire, but missed with the first shot. Private Goff rose to his feet and reached for his pistol. The man fired a second shot which struck him in the spinal column. Private Goff rolled down the mountainside. He was later rescued but died approximately 24 hours later. The subject escaped into Mexico and was never prosecuted.
Private Goff had served with the Texas Rangers Company C for 12 years. He was buried in the Throckmorton Cemetery in Throckmorton County.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-33AF081B- 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.
Private Goff gave the Texas Rangers 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Austin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Private Goff.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Private Thomas Jefferson Goff 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 Texas Rangers, 104 of 122 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 85.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas Jefferson Goff's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas Jefferson Goff Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Jefferson Goff is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas Jefferson Goff was killed by officer's rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
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