Wade Hamilton Kelley
Deputy Sheriff

Wade Hamilton Kelley

Felonious
End of Watch April 24, 1911
Age 39
The Vigil Panel 25 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Wade Hamilton Kelley was asked by a man living near the lumber mill to come to his residence and check on illegal activity. As Deputy Kelley was approaching the residence, he was shot and killed. Four men were arrested for the murder. No disposition on the cases is known at this time.

Deputy Hamilton was married and had three chidlren. He was buried in the Cedar Grove Cemetery in Trinity, Texas.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-A5F34413
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Wade. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Kelley served with the Trinity County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Groveton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Kelley.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Groveton, Trinity County, TX
Platform Identity tcso.trinity.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 24, 1911
Age 39
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Unknown weapon

Deputy Sheriff Wade Hamilton Kelley 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 Trinity County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40% of this agency's fallen.

Trinity County Sheriff's Department
2
of 5 officers
40% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,461
of 2,422 officers
60.3% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Wade Hamilton Kelley's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Wade Hamilton Kelley Compares

Age at Death
39
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Wade Hamilton Kelley is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Wade Hamilton Kelley was killed by unknown weapon.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909