Prev
Franklin Bruce Hill
Incident
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Law Enforcement Division, TX
Game Warden Franklin Hill and Game Warden Barry Decker both drowned after being thrown from their patrol boat when it hit a submerged stump on Lake Murvaul, in Panola County, at approximately 10:00 pm.
Game Warden Hill had served with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for eight years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtpenyxdk9ggnwh6rq7hp- 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 Franklin. 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.
Game Warden Hill gave the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Austin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Game Warden Hill.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Law Enforcement Division has lost 14 officers; 7 of them lost to accidents.
Franklin is one of 657 officers lost to accidents in TX, 27.1% of the 2,422 remembered there.
Franklin is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Franklin 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 1990, 2 officers at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Law Enforcement Division were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1990, 13 officers in TX were lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 136 years on record. The heaviest was 1994, with 14.
In 1990, 66 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 64th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1990, 87 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 43rd heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Franklin was 45. Of the 6 lost to accidents at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Law Enforcement Division whose age is recorded, half were between 33.3 and 42.3; the middle age was 38.5. Franklin had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 9 years.
Franklin was 45. Of the 626 lost to accidents in TX whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 46; the middle age was 36. Franklin had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Franklin was 45. 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. Franklin had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Franklin was 45. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Franklin had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 57.1% of these deaths at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Law Enforcement Division, more than any other month. Saturdays: 28.6%.
May holds 10% of these deaths in TX; December holds the most, 11.7%. Saturdays: 18%.
May holds 8.6% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Saturdays: 14.9%.
May holds 8.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Saturdays: 14.7%.
How
Accident deaths account for 50% of all 14 deaths at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Law Enforcement Division, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 27.1% of all 2,422 deaths in TX, 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
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Law Enforcement Division has 14 officers remembered here, Franklin among them.
-
John David Murphree
Dec 8, 1963
-
Joseph Marshall Evans May 6, 1965
-
Loyd Dean Gustin
Mar 25, 1968
-
Ronnie L. Germany
Jul 29, 1973
-
James Eugene Daughtrey
Dec 8, 1978
-
James F. Birmingham
Oct 11, 1988
-
William Barry Decker
May 26, 1990
-
Franklin Bruce Hill
May 26, 1990
-
Michael Charles Pauling
Aug 2, 2001
-
Wesley Warren Wagstaff
Aug 5, 2003
-
Justin Phillip Hurst
Mar 17, 2007
-
Teyran Micah Patterson
May 30, 2007
-
George Harold Whatley, Jr.
Oct 10, 2008
-
Christopher Ray Wilson
Aug 26, 2021
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 50-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
13 officers from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Law Enforcement Division are honored on badge.nw.
