Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Clarence Phillips was shot and killed in his office in retaliation for his efforts to combat illegal liquor in the county.
He told friends a few days before he was killed that bootleggers told him they would pay him $200 a week to let them have their way. When he refused, he said they told him they would kill him.
He was shot four times after answering a knock on his office door in the county courthouse.
Three men, including a former deputy, who fired the four shots, whom Sheriff Phillips had fired, were arrested and charged with his murder. All three were sentenced to life. The former deputy escaped from Granite Prison on August 14, 1932, and surrendered to Beckman County officials on December 14, 1933. Another was paroled on April 7, 1936. The third was given a year's leave of absence in 1945 and paroled in 1946.
Sheriff Phillips had served as Sheriff of Beckham County Sheriff's Office for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his two brothers and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-7A341AFC- 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 Clarence. 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.
Sheriff Phillips gave the Beckham County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Sayre community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Phillips.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Clarence H. Phillips 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Clarence H. Phillips's cause is highlighted.
How Clarence H. Phillips Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Clarence H. Phillips is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Clarence H. Phillips was killed by handgun.