Incident
Patrolman George Penn was shot and killed by two escaped convicts who failed to stop for truck scales. Unbeknownst to Patrolman Penn, the truck was loaded with stolen meat. The suspects led him on a chase that ended in a shootout on Webb Creek Road in Fairview Township in Buncombe County. Patrolman Penn was shot and killed after he ran out of ammunition. The suspects were apprehended and returned to prison. Both men were convicted of Patrolman Penn's murder. They were executed in the gas chamber on July 1, 1938. Patrolman Penn had served with the North Carolina Highway Patrol for less than two years. He was survived by his wife and parents. The North Carolina Department of Transportation named a bridge on Interstate 240 in Asheville at the Blue Ridge parkway-US 74 interchage as the Patrolman George Penn Memorial Bridge.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and parents.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Patrolman Penn gave the North Carolina Highway Patrol 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the people of North Carolina. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Penn.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
North Carolina Highway Patrol has lost 69 officers; 23 of them killed feloniously.
George is one of 385 officers killed feloniously in NC, 58% of the 664 remembered there.
George is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
George is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1937, 2 officers at North Carolina Highway Patrol were killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 15 years on record. The heaviest was 1985, with 3.
In 1937, 6 officers in NC were killed feloniously, the 7th heaviest of 127 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 12.
In 1937, 123 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 41st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1937, 123 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 48th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
George was 23. Of the 23 killed feloniously at North Carolina Highway Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 25.5 and 41.5; the middle age was 32. George had served 1.9 years; the middle length of service was 9 years.
George was 23. Of the 370 killed feloniously in NC whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 48; the middle age was 39. George had served 1.9 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
George was 23. 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. George had served 1.9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
George was 23. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. George had served 1.9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 8.7% of these deaths at North Carolina Highway Patrol; September holds the most, 30.4%. Sundays: 8.7%.
August holds 8.1% of these deaths in NC; May holds the most, 11.4%. Sundays: 13.2%.
August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
August holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 33.3% of all 69 deaths at North Carolina Highway Patrol, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 21.7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 58% of all 664 deaths in NC, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 16.4% 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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
North Carolina Highway Patrol has 69 officers remembered here, George among them.
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George Ira Thompson
Jul 2, 1929
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Alfonso Jerome Hedgpeth
Oct 23, 1931
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Albert Strong Boney
Nov 15, 1931
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Clarence LeGette Fidler
Mar 20, 1936
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Ralph W. Arnold
Sep 17, 1936
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Isaac Thomas Moore
Jun 18, 1937
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George Cabel Penn
Aug 22, 1937
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A. Brister Smart
Mar 2, 1939
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Henry Thomas Timberlake
Dec 1, 1939
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Thomas B. Whatley
Dec 29, 1947
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Weaver Howard Hogan
Mar 2, 1948
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Joseph Robert Davis
May 3, 1948
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Charles Elem Galloway
May 3, 1948
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Paul Winifred Smith
May 27, 1948
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Richard Warren Jackson
Sep 3, 1949
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Clyde Brown Avent
Dec 12, 1949
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James Thomas Brown
Nov 5, 1957
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Wister Lee Reece
Nov 5, 1957
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Harry Thomas Long
Dec 18, 1959
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David Baxter Searcy
Oct 15, 1960
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Henry Alton Hight, Jr.
May 31, 1962
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Leslie Eugene Pace
Jan 24, 1963
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William Thomas Herbin
Aug 31, 1964
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James Hugh Marshburn
Sep 19, 1964
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John William Wallin
Apr 1, 1966
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Cecil Hartwell Hoffman
Mar 15, 1968
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Paul Johnson Williams
Nov 8, 1970
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Clyde Stephen Perry
Jul 2, 1972
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Joseph Griffin Wright
Sep 27, 1972
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Larry Thomas Walton
Dec 2, 1972
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Robert Randall East
Dec 21, 1972
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Leonard Meeks, Jr.
Dec 25, 1972
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William James Smith, Jr.
Jan 12, 1974
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John Scott Hackett, Jr.
Jun 19, 1974
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James Alvin Parker
Jun 19, 1974
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Jack Daniel Templeton
Sep 30, 1974
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William Dean Arledge
Oct 5, 1974
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Lawrence Canipe, Jr.
Oct 5, 1974
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Guy Thomas Davis, Jr.
Sep 2, 1975
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Hugh Richard Griffin, Sr.
Sep 14, 1975
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Robert Lee Peterson
May 31, 1979
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Giles Arthur Harmon
Apr 9, 1985
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Raymond Earl Worley
May 14, 1985
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Bobby Lee Coggins
Sep 14, 1985
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William Edward Bayless, III
Feb 5, 1988
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Michael Louis Martin
Jul 22, 1988
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Damion Cortez Roberts
Aug 8, 1996
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Lloyd Edward Lowry
Sep 23, 1997
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William Joseph Starling
Jul 20, 1998
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David Harold Dees
Apr 4, 1999
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William Bryant Davis
Oct 21, 1999
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John Henry Duncan, Jr.
Jan 9, 2001
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Calvin Eugene Taylor
Oct 3, 2001
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Anthony Greg Cogdill
May 30, 2003
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Joseph Wynford Oliver
Mar 24, 2004
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David Shawn Blanton, Jr.
Jun 17, 2008
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Andrew James Stocks
Sep 9, 2008
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Kyle Patrick Barber
May 19, 2009
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Bobby Gene Demuth, Jr.
Sep 8, 2012
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Brandon Carroll Peterson
Apr 7, 2017
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Samuel Newton Bullard
May 21, 2018
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Kevin Keith Conner
Oct 17, 2018
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Benjamin Derek Wallace
Nov 2, 2018
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Nolan James Sanders
Mar 27, 2020
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Timothy Lee Howell
Jan 7, 2021
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James Brent Montgomery
Mar 15, 2021
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John Sumter Horton
Jan 3, 2022
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Stien Davis, Jr.
Feb 22, 2026
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Steven J. Perry
Mar 1, 2026
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 38-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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