Hardy Merl Godbold
Agency patch
Trooper

Hardy Merl Godbold

South Carolina Highway Patrol — Blythewood, SC
Accident
End of Watch February 29, 1992
Age 34
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 137 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Trooper Merle Godbold was killed when his marked Ford Mustang patrol car was pushed into a bunch of trees by a drunk driver on U.S. Highway 1 in Kershaw County. Trooper Godbold was en route to a trooper's call for assistance and had his lights and sirens activated. The driver left the scene but was apprehended an hour later. He pleaded guilty to felony drunk driving and was sentenced to 12 years. Trooper Godbold had served with the South Carolina Highway Patrol for almost five years. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, mother, brother, and sister. On September 19th, 2009, Lance Corporal Jonathan Nash was killed in a motorcycle crash on the same highway while escorting a memorial charity ride in memory of Trooper Godbold.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two daughters, mother, brother, and sister.

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.
Trooper Godbold gave the South Carolina Highway Patrol 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of South Carolina. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Godbold.

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

Agency

Type Highway Patrol
Location Blythewood, Fairfield County, SC
Platform Identity schp.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 29, 1992
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 34
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Weapon Automobile

The Sacrifice · Accident

Hardy 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
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1992, 60 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 73rd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Hardy was 34. 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. Hardy 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

February holds 7.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Saturdays: 14.9%.

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. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 6.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

South Carolina Highway Patrol has 52 officers remembered here, Hardy among them.

Across the years

Trooper Hardy Merl Godbold

South Carolina Highway Patrol · End of Watch February 29, 1992

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 48-E

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