Gregg County, Texas
Gregg County is part of the Longview, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Longview–Marshall, TX Combined Statistical Area. Discovery of oil near Kilgore, Texas in October 1920 was the beginning of an oil boom that attracted workers to the county and expanded the population by more than 500% by 1940, according to the census. By that time, the economy had stabilized but the East Texas Oil Field, extending in five counties, has continued to be important to the county and region's economy.
POLICE DEPARTMENTS
Gladewater, Kilgore College, Kilgore Fire Marshall, Lakeport, Longview, Longview City Marshall, and White Oak.
GREGG COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN LONGVIEW
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE IN LONGVIEW
GREGG COUNTY CONSTABLES, PRECINCTS 1-4
Robert Ransom
Gregg County Sheriff's Office, Texas
End of Watch Friday, September 30, 2016
Corporal Robert Ransom suffered a fatal heart attack inside the Marvin A. Smith Criminal Justice Facility while responding to a medical emergency involving an inmate.
As other deputies attempted to revive the inmate Jailer Ransom rushed to retrieve an AED. He collapsed moments later. Both he and the inmate were transported to Good Sheppard Medical Center where he passed away. The inmate that Corporal Ransom was assisting survived and was returned to the jail.
Corporal Ransom had served with the Gregg County Sheriff's Office for 11 years and had previously served with the Porter County, Indiana, Sheriff's Office for 25 years. He is survived by his children and two brothers.
Age 62
Tour 36 years
Incident Details
Cause Heart attack
Cory Galloway
Kilgore Fire Department Fire Fighter
End of Watch January 25, 2009
Cory Galloway and Kyle Perkins were killed during a training accident on January 25, 2009.
Cory was born on October 30‚ 1985‚ in Lewisville‚ Texas to Luke and Regina Galloway. Cory was the only son of Luke and Regina. He had an older sister‚ Jade and younger sister‚ Caitlin. He always joked that he wished Caitlin had been a boy‚ because he always wanted a brother. He finally got his brother‚ Chase when his sister got married. He then got a few more when he became a professional firefighter in Kilgore. Cory was a big teddy bear‚ who loved to spend hisspare time with his niece‚ Ava and nephew‚ Ian. He was so great with kids‚ and looked forward to having a family of his own. Cory and his girlfriend of 5 years‚ Sarah‚ were planning to get married and start their life together in the near future. Cory was looking forward to the next chapter of his life. Cory attended Van ISD and graduated from Van High School in 2004. He then attended Kilgore Fire Academy and Tyler Junior College and graduated with his Firefighter/EMT-B. He then began the process of testing for several departments in Texas and was hired at Kilgore Fire Department in January 2008. Cory was a member of IAFF. Cory volunteered to go to Galveston after hurricane Ike. He spent about 2 weeks without power‚ running water‚ and all the other amenities we take for granted. He did manage to get a haircut while he was there. He shocked his family and fellow firefighters with a Mohawk‚ but his ‘new do’ didn’t last long after returningto work in Kilgore. Cory loved to make people laugh; he never met a stranger and always made sure to live his life to the fullest. Cory’s life was filled with love‚ laughter‚ family‚ and God. He was of the Catholic faith and attended St. Peter’s Catholic Church with his family. God called his name too soon‚ but God only takes the best‚ so we just wait for the day that we will all be together again. Cory touched many people in his 23 years. He will be missed by many.
Kyle Perkins
Kilgore Fire Department Fire Fighter
End of Watch January 25, 2009
Cory Galloway and Kyle Perkins were killed during a training accident on Jan. 25, 2009.
Kyle W. Perkins was born June 19‚ 1963‚ in Houston‚ Texas. He attended public schools in Houston and in Whittier‚ California‚ before graduating with the Kilgore High School Class of 1981. He attended Kilgore College‚ where he was a member of the marching band and the stage band. While in high school‚ Kyle worked with his grandfather‚ Marvin Baird‚ at Baird Tire Company‚ of which he eventually became the owner and operator. Kyle was one of the youngest members of the Kilgore Rotary Club‚ serving twice as its president. He is also a Paul Harris Fellow. Kyle’s passion for the outdoors spilled over into helping our youth as an assistant Scout master of BSA Troup 252 and into his involvement with ‘The Pineywoods Buck Skinners‚’ an 1800s mountain men re-enactment group. Kyle enjoyed singing with the male chorus ‘The Sound Connection’ and with the ‘Sabine River Bottom Tune Shiners’ quartet.
Kyle’s passion for service to others extended in his more recent work with the Kilgore Rescue Unit‚ the Kilgore Fire Department‚ and Para Safe. His family has been a longtime member of the Chandler Street Church of Christ‚ where Kyle served as a deacon.
Kyle Perkins died from injuries sustained in a fall from an aerial tower during training at the Kilgore College Fire Academy.
Kyle is survived by his wife‚ Linda Perkins‚ of Kilgore; a daughter‚ Laura Perkins‚ of Austin‚ Texas; a son‚ Travis Perkins‚ of Searcy‚ Arkansas; his mother‚ Loree Baird Perkins Samford‚ of Kilgore; his father‚ William Lee Perkins‚ of Kilgore; a sister‚ Lanea Cope‚ of White Oak; his parents-in-law‚ Larry (Carlene) Partain‚ of Longview; two brothers-in-law‚ Alan (Courtney) Partain‚ of Leesburg‚ Virginia‚ and Steven (Cheri) Fallis‚ of Portland‚ Oregon; three nieces‚ La Rea Fallis‚ of White Oak; Danielle Fallis‚ of Longview; and Lashea Cope‚ of White Oak; and several aunts‚ uncles‚ cousins‚ nieces‚ and nephews.
Vance Howard Clements
End of Watch Thursday, February 1, 2001
During the response, his patrol car left the roadway and struck a tree in front of the First Baptist Church of Judson. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Deputy Clements had served with the Gregg County Sheriff's Office for 10 years. He is survived by his son, parents, and brother.
Bio
Age 32
Tour 10 years
Badge 521
Cause Automobile crash
Marion Dyer Hodges
Gregg County Sheriff's Office, Texas
End of Watch Sunday, August 4, 1991
Deputy Sheriff Marion Hodges died when he fell off an embankment while assisting state troopers at the scene of a traffic accident.
Bio
Age Not available
Tour Not available
Badge Not available
Incident Details
Cause Fall
Merwin P. Weitzel
Kilgore Fire Department Firefighter
End of Watch 1987
NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE
Charles Frederick
Kilgore Fire Department Firefighter
End of Watch 1986
NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE
Barry J Hawthorne
Kilgore Fire Department Firefighter
End of Watch 1985
NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE
Randy Loy Davis
Longview Police Department, Texas
End of Watch Friday, January 27, 1984
Sergeant Davis was shot and killed as he and other narcotics officers served a warrant in a hotel room. Sergeant Davis had obtained a key from the hotel manager in order to gain quick access to the room in order to keep the suspect from destroying evidence. As he began to open the door a single shot was fired from within the room and struck him in the chest. The suspect was arrested after a brief standoff.
Sergeant Davis had been with the agency for seven years and had been with two other agencies as well. He was survived by his wife and two children.
Bio
Age 28
Tour 7 years
Incident Details
Cause Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Apprehended
Marshall Jefferson Sowders
End of Watch Tuesday, November 22, 1977
Age 28
Tour 3 months
Cause Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; .357 caliber
Offender Sentenced to life
Harvey L Stevens
Cause Struck by vehicle.
Walter A. Connell
End of Watch Thursday, May 27, 1971
Sergeant Connell was able to crawl to a phone and call dispatchers to report their situation. He then collapsed on the floor as he suffered a major heart attack brought on by the stress of the situation.
Sergeant Connell had been with the department for 17 years and was survived by his wife and two children
Age 55
Tour 17 years
Cause Heart attack
Boyd Gaunt
End of Watch Sunday, May 2, 1948
Patrolman Gaunt had served with the agency for 1 year.
Age 36
Tour 1 year
Incident Details
Cause Automobile crash
Henry Cooper
Longview Fire Department Firefighter
End of Watch, May 2, 1948
Henry Gladney Cooper was a member of the Longview Fire Department from 1942-1948. He died while responding to a fire call on May 2, 1948. H. G. was riding the tailboard on a 1936 American LaFrancepumper when it collided with a police car at a blind intersection while both vehicles were responding to the same structure fire. He was killed on impact along with the two policemen, Boyd Gaunt and Bura Roberts. Three other firefighters, A. L. Hudgins, Nelson Rose, and Alva Bonner were injured in the accident.
Bura Clora Roberts
End of Watch Sunday, May 2, 1948
Patrolman Roberts had served with the agency for 4 years.
Age 45
Tour 4 years
Cause Automobile crash
James W. Killingsworth
End of Watch Friday, December 29, 1939
The deputies located the man hiding underneath a bed that the man's mother was lying on. When the deputies ordered the man to come out he opened fire with a handgun, mortally wounding Deputy Killingsworth. The other deputies returned fire and killed the suspect.
Deputy Killingsworth was survived by his wife and three children.
Age 32
Cause Gunfire
Weapon Handgun
Offender Not available
John Carter Scroggins
End of Watch Sunday, December 12, 1937
Officer Scroggins had served with the Kilgore Police Department for 5 years. He was survived by his wife, son, parents, brother, and three sisters. He is buried in Huntington Cemetery, near Lufkin, Texas.
Age 37
Tour 5 years
Cause Vehicular assault
Incident Date Saturday, December 11, 1937
Weapon Automobile
Offender Apprehended
James Elbert Grigsby
Offender committed suicide.
G. A. "Andy" Fambrough
End of Watch Friday, August 14, 1914
Despite being seriously wounded, the constable was able to return fire and killed the suspect.
Age 36
Incident Details
Cause Gunfire
Weapon Shotgun
Offender Shot and killed
George Tabler
Longview Police Department, Texas