Deputy Sheriff

Leo Busby

Accident
End of Watch September 10, 1953
Age 42
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
The Vigil Panel 89 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Leo Busby was killed in an automobile crash while he and another deputy were returning to Houston after transporting a prisoner to Rusk State Hospital. A delivery truck turned in front of them as they drove on Highway 69 eight miles south of Rusk. The vehicle left the roadway and overturned twice. Deputy Busby was ejected from the car and sustained fatal injuries. Deputy Busby was one of the first two African American deputies hired by Harris County. He had served with the Harris County Sheriff's Office for just under three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtqp7s3n4jrbe7s6x5dt4
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 Leo. 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.
Deputy Sheriff Busby gave the Harris County Sheriff's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Busby.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Houston, Harris County, TX
Platform Identity hcso.harris.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 10, 1953
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 42
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Leo is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% 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
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1953, 54 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 86th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Leo was 42. 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. Leo had served 3 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%. Thursdays: 14%.

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

Harris County Sheriff's Office has 56 officers remembered here, Leo among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Deputy Sheriff Leo Busby

Harris County Sheriff's Office · End of Watch September 10, 1953

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 7-E

↑