Hugh Craft

Madison County Sheriff's Dept. — Huntsville, AL

Felonious

End of Watch June 12, 1929

Age 55

The Vigil Panel 57 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 8

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Hugh Craft was assassinated because of his previous work as a federal prohibition agent. Deputy Craft was driving from his farm in Gurley, Alabama, to Huntsville when he was ambushed and shot in the face with a shotgun. The two suspects then shot him in the head with a pistol before fleeing. Weeks later one suspect was apprehended and charged with murder but released later due to a lack of evidence. Deputy Craft had recently retired as a federal prohibition agent before being appointed a deputy sheriff in Madison County. He had previously served as the chief of police of the Gurley Police Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AL-AB2AACD9
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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Craft served with the Madison County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Huntsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Craft.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Madison County Sheriff's Dept.

Location Huntsville, AL

Platform Identity mcso.madison.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 12, 1929

Age 55

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Never apprehended

Deputy Sheriff Hugh Craft 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 AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 8.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Madison County Sheriff's Dept., 6 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Madison County Sheriff's Dept.

of 9 officers

66.7% Felonious

AL — Statewide

405

of 643 officers

63% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious