Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Milton Ferguson succumbed to the injuries he received from a secondary explosion while participating in rescue efforts following an explosion at the Republic Steel Corporation's No. 2 Mine in Sayreton, Alabama, that occurred on August 28, 1943.
Dozens of miners had been killed and severely injured as a result of the first explosion during mining operations.
Deputy Ferguson was one of the first deputies on the scene and entered into the mine with other mine personnel and state safety inspectors. A second explosion occurred that killed several of the rescue team. Deputy Ferguson suffered severe burns and died from his injuries on September 1st, 1943.
Deputy Ferguson was survived by his wife and two young children, including a newborn child.
Survivors
Deputy Ferguson was survived by his wife and two young children, including a newborn child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-9948CF46- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Milton. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Ferguson served with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Ferguson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Milton F. Ferguson 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 AL, 182 of 643 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 28.3% of this state's fallen. That is 2.7 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, 8 of 24 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. Milton F. Ferguson's cause is highlighted.
How Milton F. Ferguson Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Milton F. Ferguson is highlighted in Sep.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
23 officers from Jefferson County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
