Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Walter Terry succumbed to injuries sustained when he was thrown from his horse while preparing to participate in a parade in Bullard. His horse suddenly became spooked, causing him to be thrown to the ground. He was transported to Medical Center Hospital in Tyler where he died approximately two hours later as a result of a head injury. Deputy Terry was a US Army veteran. He had served with the Smith County Sheriff's Department for several years and had previously served with the Whitehouse Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, two stepchildren, four grandchildren, mother, and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-844F84B9- 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 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 Terry gave the Smith County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tyler community, and 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
Walter Leroy Terry served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy Sheriff Walter Leroy Terry is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TX, 653 of 2,421 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 27% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Smith County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 8 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 37.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Walter Leroy Terry's cause is highlighted.
How Walter Leroy Terry Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Walter Leroy Terry is highlighted in Oct.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from Smith County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
