Roll of Honor
Incident
Game Officer Seeley Houk was shot and killed by the leader of an organized crime ring in Hillsville. He was fatally shot while while issuing game violation citations to a group of immigrants.
After shooting Officer Houk the man weighted down his body and submerged it in the Mahoning River in Lawrence County.
The suspect was sentenced to death and hanged in October 1909.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-357354B7- 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.
Game Officer Houk served with the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
Thank you for your service to the Harrisburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Game Officer Houk.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Game Officer L. Seeley Houk 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Pennsylvania Game Commission, 5 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 41.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. L. Seeley Houk's cause is highlighted.
How L. Seeley Houk Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1909
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. L. Seeley Houk is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. L. Seeley Houk was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Pennsylvania Game Commission are honored on badge.nw.
