Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff William Clark was shot and fatally wounded and Sheriff Ward Allen was shot and killed when they attempted to arrest a man and his wife wanted in a contract killing. When Deputy Clark and Sheriff Allen arrived at the couples home they were ambushed by them and shot. Sheriff Allen was killed instantly. Deputy Clark died two days later.
Both suspects, along with a third man who was involved in the contract killing, were arrested and executed in the electric chair January 15, 1943.
Deputy Clark had served with the Edgefield County Sheriff's Department for 25 years and was survived by his wife and four children. His brother, the ex-sheriff of Edgefield County, was appointed to succeed Sheriff Allen.
Survivors
Deputy Clark had served with the Edgefield County Sheriff's Department for 25 years and was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-AA7DAC2D- 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
25 years. You could have gone home.
Deputy Sheriff Clark gave the Edgefield County Sheriff's Department 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Edgefield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Clark.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff William Loyd Clark 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 SC, 271 of 438 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Edgefield County Sheriff's Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Loyd Clark's cause is highlighted.
How William Loyd Clark Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1943
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Loyd Clark is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Loyd Clark was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Edgefield County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
