David A. McGonagill
Agency patch
Patrolman

David A. McGonagill

Accident
End of Watch September 4, 1940
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 77 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman David McGonagill was killed when he was struck by lightning while riding his motorcycle on patrol.

The officer had served with the Texas Department of Public Safety for two years.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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.
Patrolman McGonagill gave the Texas Department of Public Safety 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Texas. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman McGonagill.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Highway Patrol
Location Austin, Travis County, TX
Platform Identity tdpsthp.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 4, 1940
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

David is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

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.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

David had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

September holds 9.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol has 96 officers remembered here, David among them.

Across the years

Patrolman David A. McGonagill

Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol · End of Watch September 4, 1940

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 49-W

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