Roll of Honor
Incident
Game Warden Gus Engeling was shot and killed in the Darden Wildlife Management Facility, near Palestine, Texas, while attempting to arrest an illegal duck hunter.
Game Warden Engeling was assisting a work crew to repair a broken pipeline when he heard a gunshot in the marsh several yards away. Although he was unarmed, he went to investigate the gunshot and encountered a poacher who had shot two ducks. The poacher fled on foot and then shot Game Warden Engeling with his shotgun as he was being pursued.
The poacher returned the shooting scene the next day and hid Warden Engeling's body under a submerged tree in the marsh.
The suspect was apprehended, confessed to the murder, and sentenced to death. The man was executed in the electric chair on December 2nd, 1952.
Game Warden Engeling was a U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of WWII and had served with the Texas Game and Fish Commission for 12 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-F1EA3A6D- 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.
Game Warden Engeling gave the Texas Game and Fish Commission 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Austin 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Gus A. Engeling served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Game Warden Gus A. Engeling 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 Game and Fish Commission, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gus A. Engeling's cause is highlighted.
How Gus A. Engeling Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1952
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gus A. Engeling is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Gus A. Engeling was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Texas Game and Fish Commission are honored on badge.nw.
