Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Robert L. Broaddus, along with two guards assisting him, Bud McGary and Tom Lemans, was transporting prisoner George Wilson from Collin County to Montague County. Wilson was to stand trial on misdemeanor charges. The four men were camped along Bolivar Creek in Denton County. The two guards were preparing breakfast when Wilson grabbed Bud McGary's pistol, then shot and instantly killed Deputy Sheriff Broaddus. Wilson disarmed the other guard, then stole Deputy Broaddus' horse and escaped.
News accounts reported the two guards testified at a court of inquest that after Wilson killed Broaddus, Wilson offered to buy a saddle from one of them for twenty dollars. They refused, but did sell Wilson a pistol for ten dollars, and gave him a blanket so he wouldn't have to ride bareback.
The Texas Governor offered a $500.00 reward on June 2, 1877. In November of 1877 he offered a $750.00 reward. It was noted that George Wilson was wounded and in custody of the sheriff in Yavapai County, Arizona. No records exist to show the outcome of the murder trial for George Wilson.
No family information was found, other than Robert L. Broaddus was survived by a brother. Broaddus is buried in Section 2-H, of the Montague City Cemetery, Montague, Texas. His grave is surrounded by a historic metal fence.
Survivors
Broaddus was survived by a brother.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-TX-2214C1F2- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
150 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Broaddus served with the Montague County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Montague community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Robert L. Broaddus is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,460 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert L. Broaddus's cause is highlighted.
How Robert L. Broaddus Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert L. Broaddus is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Montague County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.