Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Private

Thomas Jefferson Goff

Texas Rangers — Austin, TX

Felonious

End of Watch September 14, 1905

Age 34

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

The Vigil Panel 20 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 121

Incident

Private Tom Goff was shot and killed while escorting a prisoner to the Texas Ranger's camp in Brewster County.

Private Goff had arrested the subject for creating a disturbance in a saloon in Terlingua, which is located in the Big Bend area of Brewster County. There was no jail in the town so Private Goff, who was on horseback, lead the prisoner up a steep mountainside back to the ranger camp. The prisoner started down a different trail and the Private Goff tried to move his horse in front of him. The horse fell on Private Goff, which allowed the prisoner to grab the ranger's Winchester rifle from its scabbard.

The man opened fire, but missed with the first shot. Private Goff rose to his feet and reached for his pistol. The man fired a second shot which struck him in the spinal column. Private Goff rolled down the mountainside. He was later rescued but died approximately 24 hours later. The subject escaped into Mexico and was never prosecuted.

Private Goff had served with the Texas Rangers Company C for 12 years. He was buried in the Throckmorton Cemetery in Throckmorton County.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-33AF081B
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Thomas. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Private Goff gave the Texas Rangers 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Austin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Private Goff.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Texas Rangers

Location Austin, TX

Platform Identity tr.travis.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 14, 1905

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

Age 34

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Officer's rifle

Offender Never apprehended

Private Thomas Jefferson Goff 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 Texas Rangers, 104 of 122 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 85.2% of this agency's fallen.

Texas Rangers

104

of 122 officers

85.2% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious