William "Bill" Mayes

Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association — Fort Worth, TX

Felonious

End of Watch May 14, 1919

Age 52

The Vigil Panel 37 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Location: Oklahoma Weapon: Rifle; .30-.30 Offender: Not available

Field Inspector Bill Mayes and Officer William Miller, of the United States Department of Indian Affairs, were shot and killed while raiding a still in near Sherwood, McCurtain County, Oklahoma.

Both officers were shot in the back from ambush as they searched for a still. The man who shot them later turned himself in and was eventually acquitted of murder charges.

Officer Miller and Field Inspector Mayes were both buried together in an unmarked grave at Holly Creek.

Inspector Mayes was survived by his wife and two children.

Survivors

Inspector Mayes was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-59272BEF
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.
Field Inspector Mayes served with the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.
Thank you for your service to the Fort Worth community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Field Inspector Mayes.

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

Agency

Department Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

Location Fort Worth, TX

Platform Identity tscra.tarrant.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 14, 1919

Age 52

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Rifle; .30-.30

Field Inspector William "Bill" Mayes 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 and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

of 4 officers

100% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious