Billy Dan Howry
Agency patch
Patrolman

Billy Dan Howry

Felonious
End of Watch March 18, 1972
Age 35
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
The Vigil Panel 110 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Billy Howry was struck and killed during a traffic stop on Interstate 35 at 9:45 p.m. The suspect fled the scene but was later apprehended. He was charged with negligent homicide and jailed under a $1000.00 bond. There are no additional details about the driver. Patrolman Howry had served with the Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol for 13 years and was stationed in Georgetown. Survivors include his wife, two daughters, a son, his mother, two brothers, and three sisters. A granite marker dedicated to Patrolman Howry is located on the west side of Interstate Highway 35, approximately a quarter mile north of FM 972, near the location of the incident.

Survivors

Survivors include his wife, two daughters, a son, his mother, two brothers, and three sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-F00D9D43
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.
Patrolman Howry gave the Texas Department of Public Safety 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Texas. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Howry.

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

Agency

Location Austin, TX
Platform Identity tdpsthp.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 18, 1972
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile
Offender Apprehended

Patrolman Billy Dan Howry 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 Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol, 35 of 95 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 36.8% of this agency's fallen.

Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol
35
of 95 officers
36.8% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,463
of 2,421 officers
60.4% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Billy Dan Howry'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 Billy Dan Howry Compares

Age at End of Watch
35
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
13
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Apprehended

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Billy Dan Howry is highlighted in Mar.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Billy Dan Howry was killed by automobile.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location