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Wilford Winn Thomasson
Incident
Investigator Wilford Thomasson was shot and killed along the Colorado River near Austin, Texas, after seizing a still and arresting two suspects. State and federal liquor control agents had a 60-gallon whiskey still under surveillance. Around 6:15 p.m. Investigator Thomasson and other agents rowed a boat across the Colorado River near Mount Bonnell, outside the Austin city limits, and arrested two men. One of the agents was watching the prisoners while Investigator Thomasson and a state liquor inspector started searching the area in different directions. Investigator Thomasson approached two men he located during the search. Investigator Thomasson reportedly said, “How are you?” He then said “drop it” as he saw one of the men draw a .38 caliber pistol. The man shot Investigator Thomasson in the hand with the first shot, and then shot him in the chest with the second shot. He fell to his knees and leaned against a sapling. He fired seven times and killed the man. Investigator Thomasson reportedly groaned, “Oh Mitch get him, he got me.” The other agent saw gun flashes and heard someone scream out, but he could not investigate because he was guarding the prisoners. The state inspector also saw the gun flashes and began chasing a fleeing suspect later identified as a 15-year-old. Despite firing three shots at the fleeing suspect, the boy escaped in a boat. Officers made a sweep of the area and arrested more than a dozen people. Investigator Thomasson had been stationed in Austin as a prohibition officer for more than four years, and after the repeal of prohibition, he served in the federal liquor tax enforcement unit. He was survived by his wife and 5-year-old daughter. He was buried in Memorial Park Cemetery in Austin, Texas. Under a new law that made the death of federal agents in the line of duty a federal offense, three men were charged with murder and six others were charged with conspiracy. One of the men was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and 5-year-old daughter.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Investigator Thomasson gave the United States Department of the Treasury 4 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Investigator Thomasson.
— 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.
Wilford is one of 754 officers killed feloniously in DC, 53.1% of the 1,419 remembered there.
Wilford is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Wilford 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, 1 officer at United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit was killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 7 years on record. The heaviest was 1941, with 3.
In 1937, 4 officers in DC were killed feloniously, the 65th heaviest of 159 years on record. The heaviest was 1922, with 20.
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
Wilford was 36. 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. Wilford had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Wilford was 36. Of the 580 killed feloniously in DC whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 36. Wilford had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Wilford was 36. 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. Wilford had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Wilford was 36. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Wilford had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
February 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%. Sundays: 8.3%.
February holds 8.6% of these deaths in DC; July holds the most, 11.7%. Sundays: 14.9%.
February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
February holds 7.4% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
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 handgun, in 25% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.1% of all 1,419 deaths in DC, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 19.6% 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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit has 30 officers remembered here, Wilford 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 47-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.
