Roll of Honor
Incident
Guard Charles Powell was shot and killed after he and three other guards were taken hostage during a mass escape attempt involving about 24 inmates at the Oklahoma State Prison. As the inmates loaded the hostages into a truck other guards opened fire. In the exchange of gunfire Guard Powell was shot and killed and two other guards were wounded.
The leader of the inmates was convicted of Guard Powell's murder and sentenced to life in prison. On August 10, 1941, he was shot and killed during an escape attempt at the same prison in which Warden Jess Dunn and Deputy Sheriff William A. Ford of the Pittsburg County Sheriffs Department were shot and killed.
One of the other prisoners who participated in the 1936 escape attempt had been convicted of murdering Constable William Wilmoth and Deputy Emery Whitten, both of the McCurtain County Sheriff's Department, on August 8, 1934. He was paroled in 1958.
Guard Powell had been with the agency for five years and was survived by his wife and two children.
Survivors
Guard Powell had been with the agency for five years and was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-E484B672- 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 Charles. 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.
Prison Guard Powell gave the Oklahoma Department of Corrections 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Oklahoma. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Prison Guard Powell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Prison Guard Charles D. Powell 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 Oklahoma Department of Corrections, 14 of 19 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 73.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles D. Powell's cause is highlighted.
How Charles D. Powell Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed in 1941
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles D. Powell is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles D. Powell was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
18 officers from Oklahoma Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
