John H. Nafziger
Incident
Special Agent John Nafziger was struck and killed by a train in the Santa Fe railroad yards in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
He told another officer that he was going to check on a train that was expected to arrived at 12:20 am. At about 2:20 am a switch engine foreman found his body on the tracks near the Grand Avenue crossing (modern-day E. Sheridan Avenue).
Special Agent Nafziger had served with the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department for 16 years. He was a widower.
In Our Keeping
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- 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.
Special Agent Nafziger gave the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Topeka community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Nafziger.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department has lost 32 officers; 8 of them lost to accidents.
John is one of 66 officers lost to accidents in KS, 19.7% of the 335 remembered there.
John is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
John 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 1940, 1 officer at Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1940, 1 officer in KS was lost to accidents, the 14th heaviest of 50 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 3.
In 1940, 67 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 59th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1940, 107 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 9th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
John was 57. Of the 8 lost to accidents at Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 42.3 and 55.5; the middle age was 50.5. John had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 11 years.
John was 57. Of the 59 lost to accidents in KS whose age is recorded, half were between 31.5 and 49; the middle age was 37. John had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
John was 57. 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. John had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
John was 57. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. John had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
January holds 25% of these deaths at Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 25%.
January holds 12.1% of these deaths in KS; November holds the most, 13.6%. Tuesdays: 18.2%.
January holds 7.7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.
January holds 8.1% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Tuesdays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 25% of all 32 deaths at Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 19.7% of all 335 deaths in KS, 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
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department has 32 officers remembered here, John among them.
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Charles Hale
Oct 7, 1874
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Joseph Lampkin Dec 8, 1891
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George C. Montgomery Oct 5, 1901
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C. S. Calhoun Jul 12, 1905
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Thomas Clay Warden
Mar 2, 1906
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Oscar G. Bodley
Aug 29, 1906
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Charles L. Stewart
Aug 13, 1908
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J. A. McClure Jan 25, 1911
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John P. Cates Jun 7, 1911
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Joseph M. Kroskey Feb 22, 1912
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George W. Greenstreet Jun 17, 1912
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George W. LaPorte Mar 21, 1914
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Thomas J. Sullivan Apr 5, 1915
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William Francis Langdon
Dec 10, 1915
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Charles A. Kieper
Mar 17, 1919
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Jack Chelton Harris
Jul 15, 1919
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L. Frank Cornelius
Jan 20, 1921
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Thomas McMillin Aug 29, 1921
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Charles Sherman Patterson Aug 29, 1921
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Roy E. Burton Jul 27, 1922
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Vernon L. Holzer Aug 21, 1923
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Louis McCamant Apr 25, 1924
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Edward Lee Bowler Jan 16, 1925
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Lewis H. Mickey Mar 20, 1925
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Roy W. Stewart Jan 9, 1926
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Earl Scothorn Nov 13, 1927
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James Edward Dunman
Oct 29, 1930
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Buford A. French Nov 11, 1932
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John H. Nafziger
Jan 30, 1940
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Harry Lloyd Ashley
Dec 19, 1947
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Jimmie Allen Barnett Apr 29, 1975
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James Robert Robison
Feb 10, 1986
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 29-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
31 officers from Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.




