Ralph Canning
Agency patch
Corrections Employee

Ralph Canning

Felonious
End of Watch April 23, 1965
Age 54
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 100 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Textile Products Foreman Ralph Canning was stabbed to death while working at San Quentin State Prison. The inmate, who was serving a fives years to life sentence for a 1964 narcotics conviction, stabbed Foreman Canning 18 times. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death on January 4th, 1966. His sentence was later commuted to life. Foreman Canning had served with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for two years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, parents, brother, and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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.
Corrections Employee Canning gave the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corrections Employee Canning.

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

Agency

Type Corrections
Location Sacramento, CA
Platform Identity cdcrcorr.sacramento.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 23, 1965
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 54
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Edged weapon

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Ralph is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1965, 78 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 89th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Ralph was 54. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Ralph had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon, in 2.2% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has 42 officers remembered here, Ralph among them.

VI

Where

Corrections Employee Ralph Canning

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation · End of Watch April 23, 1965

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 4-W

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