Roll of Honor
Walter Isaac Vandorn
Incident
Sergeant Walter I. Vandorn was counting out convicts at the Clemens State Farm in Brazoria County preparatory to going to work after the noon hour. While Sergeant Vandorn still had his face toward the last man in the forward squad he was counting, a convict rushed forward and plunged an improvised dirk from a case knife into the sergeant’s breast. Sergeant Vandorn was able to take a few steps backward, drew his pistol and inflicted a death wound upon his assailant. Sergeant Vandorn fell to the floor dying almost instantly. The convict survived him but a few moments.
Very little is known about Vandorn. He was born on February 18, 1887 in Matagorda County, Texas. The 1910 US census for Colorado County reported that he was a convict camp guard. He was single. His father was Isaac Vandorn, and his mother was Rosa Torristies. His place of burial has not been located.
The Clemens State Farm located in Brazoria County was established in 1883 as a part of the Texas State Penitentiary System (1848-1926), and is still an active prison unit today as a part of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
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BO-US-TX-795F1FD9- Stewardship
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- 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.
Sergeant Vandorn gave the Texas Department of Criminal Justice 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Huntsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Vandorn.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Walter Isaac Vandorn 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 Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division, 31 of 124 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Walter Isaac Vandorn's cause is highlighted.
How Walter Isaac Vandorn Compares
Offender Outcome
killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Walter Isaac Vandorn is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Walter Isaac Vandorn was killed by edged weapon; dirk.
Others Who Wore This Badge
123 officers from Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
