Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Game Warden Joe Williams and Deputy Game Warden Harry Raymond drowned after being swept overboard while anchoring their department boat in advance of a hurricane.
Deputy Game Warden Williams and his assistant had been rescuing people from outlying islands near Aransas Pass, Texas. After anchoring their boat and going ashore the storm intensified causing them to go back to the boat to put out more anchors. At this time they were both swept overboard and drowned. Their bodies were recovered two days later.
Deputy Game Warden Williams was first buried in a mass grave on the beach near Sinton, San Patricio, Texas. However, the county sheriff recognized and identified Capt. Williams. His remains were reburied at Rose Hill Memorial Park in Corpus Christi.
Deputy Game Warden Williams was survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.
Survivors
Deputy Game Warden Williams was survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-B9AA7410- 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 Game Warden Williams served with the Texas Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission.
Thank you for your service to the Austin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Game Warden Williams.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Game Warden Joe Williams is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TX, 653 of 2,421 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 27% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Texas Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission, 3 of 4 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joe Williams's cause is highlighted.
How Joe Williams Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Joe Williams is highlighted in Sep.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Texas Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission are honored on badge.nw.
