Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff George Winningham and his son, Deputy Floyd Winningham, were shot and killed after responding to a lumber camp to investigate reports of a murder.
When the two, along with a third deputy, arrived at the camp, they were informed that a murder had not taken place but that there was a drunk male who was causing a disturbance and he was located in a railroad boxcar. When the officers reached the boxcar, they told the man to come out, but he opened fire with a .45 caliber handgun, striking Deputy Floyd Winningham in the head twice, killing him.
In the ensuing exchange of gunfire, Sheriff George Winningham was shot in the abdomen. He succumbed to his wounds the following day while being transported to a Nashville Hospital.
After shooting the two officers, the suspect fled into the woods, where he remained for several weeks. The suspect eventually turned himself into a Scott County deputy for fear that he would be killed if he were caught by posse members. Several days after being arrested, a mob of citizens and lawmen broke into the jail, took the suspect and another prisoner, and murdered them in Scott County.
Sheriff Winningham was serving his fifth term as Sheriff when he was murdered.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, who was appointed Sheriff after his death, and son, Sheriff Willie Winningham of Clinton County, Kentucky.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-331BB2C8- 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
20 years. You could have gone home.
Sheriff Winningham gave the Pickett County Sheriff's Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Byrdstown community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Winningham.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff George Winningham 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Pickett County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. George Winningham's cause is highlighted.
How George Winningham Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. George Winningham is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. George Winningham was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Pickett County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
