William R. Ramsey Jr.
Agency patch
Special Agent

William R. Ramsey Jr.

Felonious
End of Watch May 3, 1938
Age 34
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 74 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Special Agent William Ramsey was shot and killed as he and other agents attempted to arrest two bank robbery suspects in Penfield, Illinois. The agents were able to take one suspect into custody but as they attempted to arrest the second suspect they were engaged in a shootout. Agent Ramsey was shot and mortally wounded and the suspect was also shot and killed. Agent Ramsey was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds the following morning. Agent Ramsey had served with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for five years.

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 Ramsey gave the United States Department of Justice 5 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Ramsey.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdjfbifed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 3, 1938
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 34
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

William is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1938, 111 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 45th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 34. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. William had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation has 89 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years

Special Agent William R. Ramsey Jr.

United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation · End of Watch May 3, 1938

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 35-W

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