Roll of Honor
Incident
On March 13, 1884, Jack County Deputy Sheriff J.E. Richardson shot and killed a man named Caleb, Cale, Parrott. William King was the sheriff at the time Richardson killed Parrott. On Friday, July 17, 1885, William King was riding his horse on the street in front on Crutchfield's Saloon in Jacksboro. Floyd Parrott and Trammell Hickman stepped out of the saloon. Floyd Parrott drew his pistol and shot King, killing him instantly.
Floyd Parrott was apparently still upset about the death of his brother, and shot King in retaliation. Sheriff King did not arrest Deputy Richardson at the time of the shooting. Richardson was later indicted and tried in Young County on a change of venue for the killing of Cale Parrott. The court records have since been lost.
Floyd Parrott and Trammell Hickman were indicted for the murder of William King. In January 1886, Floyd Parrott was found not guilty by a Jack County jury. The charges against Trammell Hickman were dismissed at the request of the district attorney for lack of sufficient evidence.
William M. King was elected sheriff of Jack County on November 2, 1880 and re-elected on November 7, 1882 and served until 1884 when his term of office ended. King was survived by his wife Paradine. They had eight children. William King and his wife Paradine are buried in the King Cemetery, Jack County, Texas.
Survivors
King was survived by his wife Paradine.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-1ED9D2D0- 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
141 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff King gave the Jack County Sheriff's Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Jacksboro community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff William Meredith King 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 Jack County Sheriff's Department, 4 of 4 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. William Meredith King's cause is highlighted.
How William Meredith King Compares
Offender Outcome
not guilty and dismissed on two suspects
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Meredith King is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Meredith King was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Jack County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
