Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy William Singletary was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man with a rifle for being drunk at a public gathering. The suspect gave Deputy Singletary the rifle and then produced a pistol and shot him in the head. The 33-year-old suspect was arrested, charged with murder, and posted bond four months later. It is not known if he was tried. He died on November 23, 1900.
Deputy Singletary was survived by his wife and five children. He is buried at the family cemetery west of Sentinal, Oklahoma.
Survivors
Deputy Singletary was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-CDF275D6- 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
127 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Singletary served with the Washita County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Cordell community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff William H. Singletary 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 OK, 403 of 582 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this state's fallen. That is 15 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Washita County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William H. Singletary's cause is highlighted.
How William H. Singletary Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William H. Singletary is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William H. Singletary was killed by handgun; pistol.
Others Who Wore This Badge
8 officers from Washita County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
