Roll of Honor
Virgil Welch
Incident
Guard Virgil Welch was shot and killed during an escape from the Eastham Prison Farm.
Four prisoners made good on the escape. A large posse was sent after them, and two of the prisoners were ultimately shot and killed. The other two were recaptured.
Guard Welch was survived by his wife.
Survivors
Guard Welch was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-D2155BC6- 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.
Guard Welch served with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Thank you for your service to the Huntsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Welch.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Guard Virgil Welch 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. Virgil Welch's cause is highlighted.
How Virgil Welch Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Virgil Welch is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Virgil Welch was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
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.
