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William Milton Pugh
Incident
Investigator William Pugh was shot and killed while raiding a still at home in Hales Point, Tennessee. The shooter was convicted and executed for Investigator Pugh's murder on August 14, 1943. He is the only person ever executed by the federal government in Tennessee. The man had been previously sentenced to 21 years in prison for the murder of Deputy Sheriff Joseph Wyatt Lunsford, of the Lauderdale County, Tennessee, Sheriff's Office, on June 5, 1931. He had been paroled from that sentence on February 16, 1940.
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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.
Investigator Pugh served with the United States Department of the Treasury.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Investigator Pugh.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit has lost 30 officers; 12 of them killed feloniously.
William is one of 754 officers killed feloniously in DC, 53.1% of the 1,419 remembered there.
William is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
William 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 1941, 3 officers at United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1941, 5 officers in DC were killed feloniously, the 50th heaviest of 159 years on record. The heaviest was 1922, with 20.
In 1941, 92 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 61st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1941, 260 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
William was 49. Of the 10 killed feloniously at United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit whose age is recorded, half were between 37.3 and 49.8; the middle age was 42.5.
William was 49. Of the 580 killed feloniously in DC whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 36.
William was 49. 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.
William was 49. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
November holds 8.3% of these deaths at United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit; March holds the most, 16.7%. Fridays: 16.7%.
November holds 7.2% of these deaths in DC; July holds the most, 11.7%. Fridays: 16.2%.
November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
November holds 8.2% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 40% of all 30 deaths at United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 33.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.1% of all 1,419 deaths in DC, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 7.4% 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 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 6.3% of these deaths.
His people
United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit has 30 officers remembered here, William among them.
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William Roy Blandford
May 12, 1934
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Robert C. Nickerson Apr 11, 1935
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William Rowland Braden Jul 22, 1935
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William Louis Pappan
Dec 4, 1935
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John Ruskin Foster
May 14, 1936
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Donald C. Cleveland Nov 22, 1936
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William Thomas Butler Jan 7, 1937
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Wilford Winn Thomasson
Feb 14, 1937
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William James Tennis Sep 28, 1937
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William Edward Smith Dec 25, 1937
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William Joseph Jackson, Jr.
Mar 8, 1938
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William Franklin Berry
Mar 18, 1938
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James Logan Molloy
Jan 31, 1939
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Benjamin Richard Smallwood Jul 14, 1939
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Norval Lee DeArmond Jan 1, 1940
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Elvis Wesley Myrick Apr 3, 1940
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Samuel Leeper Jul 31, 1940
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Walter C. Guinn Jan 28, 1941
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Robert Richard Evans Apr 19, 1941
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Roy Neil Griffin
Aug 18, 1941
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Frederick Lewis Regan Sep 28, 1941
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William Milton Pugh
Nov 21, 1941
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Randall Oakes Younger
Jun 1, 1943
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Melvin John Clark Jun 17, 1947
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Jesse Wilburn Jones
Mar 3, 1948
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William Honkala Mar 7, 1948
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Milton Henry Rogers
Jul 12, 1948
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Merimon Hampton Barnes Apr 24, 1949
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Earl Raymond Harrouff Jan 12, 1950
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Oliver Holmes Cornelius
Feb 20, 1950
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 28-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
29 officers from United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
