Roll of Honor

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Patrolman

W. A. Hail

Tarleton State University Police Department — Stephenville, TX

Cardiac Veteran →

End of Watch December 13, 1978

Age 56

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

The Vigil Panel 120 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Patrolman W.A. Hail suffered a fatal heart attack at approximately 11:30 pm shortly after chasing several students who were conducting a panty raid at a female dorm following their last final exam.

He had chased several of the male students a short distance before collapsing. Several students performed CPR on Officer Hail but were unable to revive him. He was transported to a local hospital where he died several minutes after midnight.

Patrolman Hail was a WWII veteran and had served with the Tarleton State College Police Department for nine years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, stepmother, two half-sisters, and two grandchildren.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-A4255E9D
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Hail gave the Tarleton State University Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Stephenville community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Tarleton State University Police Department

Location Stephenville, TX

Platform Identity tsuup.erath.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 13, 1978

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Age 56

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Cause Detail Heart attack

Military Service

W. A. Hail served in the Other (1942â1945) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman W. A. Hail is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In TX, 88 of 2,421 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 3.6% of this state's fallen.

Tarleton State University Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Cardiac

TX — Statewide

of 2,421 officers

3.6% Cardiac

Nationwide

1,306

of 32,508 officers

4% Cardiac

National Cause Distribution

How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. W. A. Hail's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How W. A. Hail Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Cardiac: 48.6 years

Years of Service