In memory of Texas Sheriffs, Deputies and Jailers who
gave their lives for the protection of our citizens.

To search for information on the inductees of the 
Lost Lawman Memorial  Click here

Criteria for Inclusion on Lost Lawman Memorial Wall

The Lost Lawman Memorial, located at the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas headquarters at 1601 South IH-35 in Austin, was first dedicated on May 15, 1994.  In 1993, the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas began research efforts to identify, confirm and compile the names of all Sheriffs, Chief Deputies, Jailers and Deputies who have died in the line of duty throughout Texas’ history.  The research efforts resulted in 219 names listed in the initial dedication of the Memorial. Since that memorial, we have had the following ceremonies:

After an expansion project in October 2005, headed by Hopf Monument in Austin, two new panels were added to the current Memorial structure. The Memorial now has 13 black granite panels, with the capacity to hold a total of 527 names. Currently, there are 478 names listed on the memorial.

The granite used to construct the Memorial was taken from the same quarry as the black granite used to construct the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.  Many of the names which appear on these walls can also be found on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, located in Washington D.C. and more recently, the Texas Peace Officers' Memorial on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol.

Standing in the center, watching over the names of the Lost Lawmen, stands a lifelike Bronze statue of an early Texas Sheriff and his horse, holding his hat in his hand as he pays a final tribute to all his fallen comrades.

The artist and architect of the memorial, Bob Coffee, of Coffee, Crier & Schenck Architects in Austin, was recognized in 1999 by the Society of American Registered Architects, New York Council, with its acclaimed Design Award of Merit.