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Houston F. Summers
Agency patch
Trooper

Houston F. Summers

Oklahoma Highway Patrol — Oklahoma City, OK
Felonious
United States flag Oklahoma flag
End of Watch May 26, 1978
Age 62
Tour of Duty 32 yrs
Badge 153
The Vigil Panel 263 · Column 2 · Line 18 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 38

Incident

Trooper Pappy Summers, Trooper Billy Young, and Lieutenant James Grimes were shot and killed while attempting to apprehend two escapees who were wanted for seven murders since their escape. Troopers Summers and Young were shot and killed while on a roving patrol of a county road when they came across the suspects in a recently stolen truck. Both troopers were killed in the ensuing gun battle. Lieutenant Grimes and his partner were being directed into the area by aircraft when they too were ambushed. Lieutenant Grimes was killed in the ensuing gun battle, and his partner was wounded. Both suspects were eventually shot and killed by other officers at the scene. Trooper Summers had served with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for 32 years and was due to retire. He was survived by his wife. He is buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in Enid, Garfield County, Oklahoma.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

32 years. You could have gone home.
Trooper Summers gave the Oklahoma Highway Patrol 32 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the people of Oklahoma. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Summers.

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

Agency

Department Oklahoma Highway Patrol
Type Highway Patrol
Location Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, OK
Platform Identity ohp.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 26, 1978
Tour of Duty 32 yrs
Age 62
Badge Number 153
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Houston is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1978, 121 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 43rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Houston was 62. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Houston had served 32 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%. Fridays: 14.3%.

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

Oklahoma Highway Patrol has 39 officers remembered here, Houston among them.

Across the years

Trooper Houston F. Summers

Oklahoma Highway Patrol · End of Watch May 26, 1978

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 43-W

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