Roll of Honor
Incident
On Sunday morning, December 4, 1927, at approximately 3:00 a.m., Cooke County Sheriff's Deputies Jake Wright, William W. Emerson, and a complainant - Mr. Autrey - went to a farm where Dave T. Wilson was living. The deputies had a search warrant for stolen chickens and turkeys. The stolen birds were located on Wilson's farm. Wilson became enraged when he saw Autrey and grabbed Deputy Emerson's pistol and shot the deputy. Deputy Emerson died from his wounds at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, December 5, 1927.
Dave T. Wilson was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for murdering Emerson, 8 years for assault with intent to murder Wright, and one year for various theft charges. He was pardoned February 9, 1944.
Deputy Sheriff William W. Emerson was survived by his bride of four months, his mother, and several brothers and sisters. He is buried in the Fairview Cemetery, Block 21, Lot 116, in Gainesville in Cooke County.
Survivors
Emerson was survived by his bride of four months, his mother, and several brothers and sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-A0FDBF32- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Emerson served with the Cooke County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Gainesville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Emerson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff William W. Emerson 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 Cooke County Sheriff's Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William W. Emerson's cause is highlighted.
How William W. Emerson Compares
Offender Outcome
Pardoned in 1944
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William W. Emerson is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William W. Emerson was killed by officer's handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Cooke County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
