Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Joe Gore was shot and killed during a disturbance between two miners at a meeting of the Blair Local Union 2887, United Mine Workers.
On October 5, 1920, two minors got into a physical altercation, so the next night, Deputy Gore attended the meeting. When another argument broke out around 8:00 p.m., a gunfight ensued. Deputy Gore was killed instantly. Four other minors were wounded, and one died a few days later.
Two men were charged with fighting, and a woman was charged with supplying a gun to her husband during the fight. The shooter fled the area. He was apprehended in Detroit, Michigan, in 1929 and charged with murder, but the results of the trial in 1930 are unknown.
Deputy Gore had served with the Logan County Sheriff's Office for one year.
His cousin, Deputy Sheriff John C. Gore, was shot and killed in the line of duty on August 31, 1921.
Deputy Joe Gore is buried at Lawson Cemetery in Stollings in Logan County.
Survivors
He was survived by seven children and grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WV-3420192C- 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
You barely got started.
Deputy Sheriff Gore gave the Logan County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Logan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Gore.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Joseph Z. Gore 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 WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 18.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Logan County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Z. Gore's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Z. Gore Compares
Offender Outcome
Trial results unknown
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Z. Gore is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Z. Gore was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Logan County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
