Roll of Honor
Incident
Guard William Taylor and Guard Roy Bailey drowned in the Buffalo Bayou while attempting to stop an escape from Harris County Convict Camp No. 2, near the Houston Belt and Terminal Railway Company's bridge over the Houston Ship Channel.
Several inmates suddenly attempted to escape at about 8:00 am and ran toward the river. Most of the prisoners surrendered when ordered to stop by the guards, but two inmates continued to flee into the river as guards released canines to subdue them. One of the men entered the river with Guard Bailey in pursuit. The two initially began to struggle in approximately three feet of water but stepped into a deep hole.
Guard Taylor came to Guard Bailey's aid as he attempted to stay above water, but they both went under the surface and drowned. The prisoner that Guard Taylor had been struggling with was able to escape but was arrested later in the afternoon at his brother's home. It is not known if anyone was ever charged in connection with Guard Taylor's and Guard Bailey's deaths.
Guard Taylor was survived by his parents. He was buried in Prairie Lea Cemetery in Washington County.
Survivors
Guard Taylor was survived by his parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-234A4AA0- 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.
Guard Taylor served with the Harris County Convict Camp.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Taylor.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Guard William Isham Taylor is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TX, 653 of 2,421 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 27% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Harris County Convict Camp, 2 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Isham Taylor's cause is highlighted.
How William Isham Taylor Compares
Offender Outcome
Unknown disposition
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. William Isham Taylor is highlighted in Feb.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Harris County Convict Camp are honored on badge.nw.
