Prev
Incident
Trooper Theo Cobb was killed after being struck by a speeding vehicle. He and another officer were investigating a minor collision on State Highway 76 when they observed a car approaching at a high rate of speed. Trooper Cobb stepped from behind the wrecker and shined his flashlight at the car to get it to slow down, however, the vehicle struck him and the driver the fled the scene. A soldier later turned himself in and was charged with manslaughter. Trooper Cobb had served with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for 14 years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtpc596ze1x08e51177jn- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Theo. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Cobb gave the Oklahoma Highway Patrol 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Oklahoma. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Cobb.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Oklahoma Highway Patrol has lost 39 officers; 17 of them lost to accidents.
Theo is one of 135 officers lost to accidents in OK, 23.2% of the 582 remembered there.
Theo is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Theo 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 1951, 1 officer at Oklahoma Highway Patrol was lost to accidents, the 4th heaviest of 12 years on record. The heaviest was 1978, with 3.
In 1951, 2 officers in OK were lost to accidents, the 17th heaviest of 78 years on record. The heaviest was 1980, with 4.
In 1951, 70 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 48th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1951, 76 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 64th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Theo was 43. Of the 16 lost to accidents at Oklahoma Highway Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 29.8 and 38.5; the middle age was 34.5. Theo had served 14 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Theo was 43. Of the 118 lost to accidents in OK whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 48.8; the middle age was 38. Theo had served 14 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Theo was 43. 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. Theo had served 14 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Theo was 43. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Theo had served 14 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
June holds 5.9% of these deaths at Oklahoma Highway Patrol; July holds the most, 23.5%. Sundays: 11.8%.
June holds 3.7% of these deaths in OK; March holds the most, 12.6%. Sundays: 13.3%.
June holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Sundays: 14%.
June holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 43.6% of all 39 deaths at Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 23.2% of all 582 deaths in OK, 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
Oklahoma Highway Patrol has 39 officers remembered here, Theo among them.
-
Sam R. Henderson
May 7, 1941
-
James A. Long
Jul 12, 1942
-
Theo Cobb
Jun 24, 1951
-
Johnnie Whittle
Sep 14, 1953
-
John Richard Barter
Jan 29, 1959
-
Howard M. Crumley
Jun 28, 1970
-
Larry Bruce Smith
Jan 29, 1971
-
William James Walker
Feb 17, 1971
-
Robert Eugene Ake
Sep 18, 1972
-
Thomas F. Isbell
Dec 21, 1972
-
J. C. Magar
Jun 29, 1975
-
Larry Verne Crabtree
Apr 4, 1977
-
Cell C. Howell
Apr 27, 1977
-
James Pat Grimes
May 26, 1978
-
Billy G. Young
May 26, 1978
-
Houston F. Summers
May 26, 1978
-
Rondal Ray Alexander
Jul 3, 1978
-
Richard Dean Oldaker
Jul 3, 1978
-
Kenny Lee Osborn
Jul 13, 1978
-
Kenneth Dean Strang
Mar 1, 1980
-
Edward A. Elliott
Aug 22, 1980
-
Travis Leon Bench
Oct 5, 1983
-
Guy David Nalley
Oct 27, 1984
-
James A. Hayes
Jul 10, 1988
-
Randy Joe Littlefield
Jan 15, 1990
-
Duane Lee Grundy
Apr 11, 1990
-
Joseph Earl Nicolle
Jul 26, 1990
-
David Warner Eales
Sep 24, 1999
-
Matthew Scott Evans
Aug 31, 2000
-
Christopher Michael Van Krevelen
Nov 28, 2002
-
Nikky Joe Green
Dec 26, 2003
-
Steven Roy Smith
Feb 9, 2006
-
William Lloyd McClendon
Oct 1, 2006
-
George C. Green, Jr.
Oct 26, 2010
-
Nicholas Glenn Dees
Jan 31, 2015
-
Donald Heath Meyer
Jul 24, 2017
-
Daniel Boyd Martin
Apr 23, 2018
-
Jeffery Wade Sewell
Sep 26, 2020
-
Vernon Brake
Apr 8, 2026
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 39-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
38 officers from Oklahoma Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
