Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Leonard Morehead was shot and killed while attending a magic show in Steep Hollow.
He was seated in the back row when a man approached him and fired a shotgun at his head. The shotgun was loaded with nails, screws, and bolts. The suspect, 35, a former mental patient, declared cured and released from a Texas insane asylum 12 years earlier, was adjudged insane and committed to Austin State Hospital.
Sheriff Morehead was elected sheriff of the Brazos County Sheriff's Office on November 5, 1918, and re-elected on November 2, 1920, and November 7, 1922. His wife was appointed to complete his term in office on March 30, 1924, and served until January 1, 1925. She became the second female sheriff in Texas history. When interviewed in 1959, she said one of the things she remembered the most when she was sheriff was pouring out 718 quarts of illegal liquor during prohibition, which took her five hours.
Sheriff Morehead was survived by a child by his first wife, who preceded him in death, and his second wife and two children.
He was buried in the Bryan City Cemetery.
Sheriff Morehead was elected sheriff of the Brazos County Sheriff's Office on November 5, 1918, and re-elected on November 2, 1920, and November 7, 1922. His wife was appointed to complete his term in office on March 30, 1924, and served until January 1, 1925. She became the second female sheriff in Texas history. When interviewed in 1959, she said one of the things she remembered the most when she was sheriff was pouring out 718 quarts of illegal liquor during prohibition, which took her five hours.
Survivors
Sheriff Morehead was survived by a child by his first wife, who preceded him in death, and his second wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-02C7671F- 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.
Sheriff Morehead gave the Brazos County Sheriff's Office 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Bryan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Morehead.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Leonard Edgar Morehead 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Brazos County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 3 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. Leonard Edgar Morehead's cause is highlighted.
How Leonard Edgar Morehead Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Leonard Edgar Morehead is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Brazos County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
