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Deputy Sheriff

Milton F. Ferguson

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office — Birmingham, AL
Accident
United States flag Alabama flag
End of Watch September 1, 1943
Age 33
The Vigil Panel 178 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 23

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Milton Ferguson succumbed to the injuries he received from a secondary explosion while participating in rescue efforts following an explosion at the Republic Steel Corporation's No. 2 Mine in Sayreton, Alabama, that occurred on August 28, 1943.

Dozens of miners had been killed and severely injured as a result of the first explosion during mining operations.

Deputy Ferguson was one of the first deputies on the scene and entered into the mine with other mine personnel and state safety inspectors. A second explosion occurred that killed several of the rescue team. Deputy Ferguson suffered severe burns and died from his injuries on September 1st, 1943.

Deputy Ferguson was survived by his wife and two young children, including a newborn child.

Survivors

Deputy Ferguson was survived by his wife and two young children, including a newborn child.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Ferguson served with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Ferguson.

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

Agency

Department Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
Type Sheriff's Office
Location Birmingham, Jefferson County, AL
Platform Identity jcso.jefferson.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 1, 1943
Age 33
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Cause Detail Explosion

The Sacrifice · Accident

Milton is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1943, 38 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 109th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Milton was 33. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

September holds 9.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office has 24 officers remembered here, Milton among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Deputy Sheriff Milton F. Ferguson

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office · End of Watch September 1, 1943

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 7-W

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