Prev
Incident
Game Officer Seeley Houk was shot and killed by the leader of an organized crime ring in Hillsville. He was fatally shot while while issuing game violation citations to a group of immigrants.
After shooting Officer Houk the man weighted down his body and submerged it in the Mahoning River in Lawrence County.
The suspect was sentenced to death and hanged in October 1909.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtn07g26633zpjs3gd71e- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew L.. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Game Officer Houk served with the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
Thank you for your service to the Harrisburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Game Officer Houk.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Pennsylvania Game Commission has lost 12 officers; 5 of them killed feloniously.
L. is one of 598 officers killed feloniously in PA, 47.4% of the 1,262 remembered there.
L. is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
L. is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1906, 2 officers at Pennsylvania Game Commission were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1906, 9 officers in PA were killed feloniously, the 11th heaviest of 152 years on record. The heaviest was 1918, with 16.
In 1906, 89 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 69th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1906, 90 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 75th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
When
March holds 20% of these deaths at Pennsylvania Game Commission; November holds the most, 60%. Fridays: 20%.
March holds 9.4% of these deaths in PA; September holds the most, 10.5%. Fridays: 15.6%.
March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
March holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 41.7% of all 12 deaths at Pennsylvania Game Commission, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 40% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 47.4% of all 1,262 deaths in PA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 5.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 6.3% of these deaths.
His people
Pennsylvania Game Commission has 12 officers remembered here, L. among them.
-
L. Seeley Houk
Mar 2, 1906
-
Charles Beecham Nov 4, 1906
-
Joseph McHugh
Nov 7, 1915
-
Joseph H. Kalbfus
Aug 10, 1919
-
Elias W. Kelly
Aug 10, 1919
-
Darrell S. Solida Dec 6, 1931
-
Walter M. Middleton Dec 1, 1935
-
John B. Ross Jul 18, 1942
-
Robert Earl Zimmerman
May 13, 1957
-
Leroy Brown Stackhouse Sep 28, 1969
-
Woodrow E. Portzline
Oct 24, 1973
-
David Lynn Grove
Nov 11, 2010
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 63-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Pennsylvania Game Commission are honored on badge.nw.
