Roll of Honor
Incident
At approximately 9:30 p.m., Deputy Sheriff and Motor Traffic Officer William A. Gillespie spotted a Chrysler automobile that fit the description of a vehicle wanted in connection with an armed robbery and shoot-out at a Gulf service station earlier that evening in Wichita Falls, Texas. Gillespie gave chase on his police motorcycle and when he attempted to pass the suspect vehicle he was struck head-on by a truck. The suspect vehicle turned out not to be involved in the robbery. Officer Gillespie was transported to a Vernon hospital where he died two days later on March 11, 1927.
Frank [Jack] Carter, 23, who had been wounded in the Wichita Falls shoot-out was arrested several days later in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Carter was also charged with robbery of three service stations in Dallas and sentenced to 99 years in prison for the Dallas robberies. Robbery charges were also filed against Carter in Fort Worth, Tarrant County. Officer Gillespie was survived by his wife Bessie and two daughters. He is buried in the Harrold Cemetery, Wilbarger County, Texas.
At approximately 9:30 p.m., Deputy Sheriff and Motor Traffic Officer William A. Gillespie spotted a Chrysler automobile that fit the description of a vehicle wanted in connection with an armed robbery and shoot-out at a Gulf service station earlier that evening in Wichita Falls, Texas. Gillespie gave chase on his police motorcycle and when he attempted to pass the suspect vehicle he was struck head-on by a truck. The suspect vehicle turned out not to be involved in the robbery. Officer Gillespie was transported to a Vernon hospital where he died two days later on March 11, 1927.
Frank [Jack] Carter, 23, who had been wounded in the Wichita Falls shoot-out was arrested several days later in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Carter was also charged with robbery of three service stations in Dallas and sentenced to 99 years in prison for the Dallas robberies. Robbery charges were also filed against Carter in Fort Worth, Tarrant County.
Officer Gillespie was survived by his wife Bessie and two daughters. He is buried in the Harrold Cemetery, Wilbarger County, Texas.
Survivors
Officer Gillespie was survived by his wife Bessie and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
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- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Gillespie served with the Wilbarger County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Vernon community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Gillespie.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff William A. Gillespie 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 Wilbarger County Sheriff's Department, 1 of 3 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William A. Gillespie's cause is highlighted.
How William A. Gillespie Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. William A. Gillespie is highlighted in Mar.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Wilbarger County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
