Roll of Honor
William Erastus Tow
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Bud Tow was shot and killed while riding with a posse searching for a fugitive in the Swiss Community, southeast of Burnsville.
The subject approached Deputy Tow from behind and opened fire, striking him in the back and legs multiple times. The man was arrested and sentenced to 25 to 30 years in prison.
Two years into his sentence he severely wounded a prison camp guard during an escape. He remained at large for five years until being arrested in Tennessee by the FBI. He was returned to North Carolina in 1947 to face charges related to the escape and wounding of the guard.
Deputy Tow was a U.S. Army veteran of the Spanish-American War.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-0403AAD3- 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. William 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 Tow served with the Yancey County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Burnsville 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
William Erastus Tow served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Deputy Sheriff William Erastus Tow 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 97,759 officers honored here.
In NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 58 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Yancey County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 2 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 Erastus Tow's cause is highlighted.
How William Erastus Tow Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Erastus Tow is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Erastus Tow was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Military Service
William Erastus Tow served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit William Erastus Tow’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Yancey County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
