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Gary P. Underwood
Incident
Correctional Officer Gary Underwood was accidentally shot and killed when he was being held hostage by an inmate at the Lucasville Prison (current-day Southern Ohio Correctional Facility). The inmate had just shot and killed Officer Arthur Sprouse with a pistol that had been smuggled to him. He took Officer Underwood and two other officers hostage. When he threatened to kill them, sharpshooters fired at him. As soon as they fired, the inmate pushed Officer Underwood into the line of fire and dropped to the floor. The other guards subdued the inmate. A guard who had recently been fired was charged with smuggling the gun to the inmate. The inmate, who was serving a life sentence for murder, was convicted of Officer Sprouse's murder and received another life sentence. Officer Underwood had served with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Correctional Officer Underwood gave the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Underwood.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction has lost 26 officers; 5 of them lost to accidents.
Gary is one of 319 officers lost to accidents in OH, 32.1% of the 993 remembered there.
Gary is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Gary is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1973, 1 officer at Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1973, 4 officers in OH were lost to accidents, the 15th heaviest of 125 years on record. The heaviest was 1925, with 8.
In 1973, 90 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 13th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1973, 106 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 13th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Gary was 24. Of the 4 lost to accidents at Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction whose age is recorded, half were between 29.3 and 42; the middle age was 34.5. Gary had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Gary was 24. Of the 310 lost to accidents in OH whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 37. Gary had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Gary was 24. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Gary had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Gary was 24. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Gary had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 40% of these deaths at Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 60%.
July holds 12.2% of these deaths in OH, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 15%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.
July holds 8.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Tuesdays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 19.2% of all 26 deaths at Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 32.1% of all 993 deaths in OH, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction has 26 officers remembered here, Gary among them.
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Cyrus Sells
Jun 9, 1841
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James Fancher Jul 14, 1849
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Daniel Heavey Jan 19, 1865
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Charles B. Lauderbaugh
Nov 18, 1898
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Henry J. Gearhart May 29, 1904
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William H. Moorehead Dec 23, 1905
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Urban Wilford Nov 3, 1926
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Grant Weakley
Sep 2, 1927
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Frank B. Hanger
Oct 6, 1932
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Alfred E. Schmidt Sep 2, 1940
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Walter W. Zimmer
Apr 19, 1948
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Samuel P. Chesshir Apr 22, 1948
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Arthur L Sprouse Jul 24, 1973
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Gary P. Underwood
Jul 24, 1973
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Robert A. White
Apr 27, 1979
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Eric D Bowling Feb 2, 1984
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Beverly Jo Taylor
Jun 7, 1990
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Thomas D. Davis, Jr.
Jun 26, 1992
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Robert B. Vallandingham
Apr 14, 1993
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Dennis Lee Stemen
Jul 5, 1994
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Bonita Haynes
Aug 6, 1996
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Shirlene A. Jenkins
Feb 11, 1997
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Wayne Mitchell
Feb 2, 2001
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Michael Wilson Douds
Apr 5, 2003
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Rodney Osborne
Apr 9, 2024
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Andrew Lansing
Dec 25, 2024
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 43-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
25 officers from Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
