George Henry White

George Henry White was born in 1857 in Georgia to Enoch and Amanda White. His father was a poor farmer and he moved his family from Georgia to Alabama, then to Rusk County, Texas. By 1877, George left his family behind and had moved to Fort Worth. He befriended several families in his new hometown, living with them as he established himself in Tarrant County. In early 1879, George found steady employment with the Fort Worth Police Department as a Deputy Marshall (the department was only 6 years old.) He also worked part-time as a bailiff for the Tenth District Court when court was in session during the months of March thru July. He was regarded as “one of the best and most efficient officers” on the force in a time when Fort Wort was experiencing a crime wave.¹

In addition to his law enforcement work, he was also a volunteer fireman. He worked with the Hook and Ladder Company #1 (aka the Panther Company) and was the Captain of Cart #1.²

On August 2, 1879, Deputy Marshal White was tasked with arresting a known horse thief named Tom Alford. Even though Alford was located in Arlington, Texas, George still wanted to make the arrest personally as a favor to the Sheriff.³ While in Arlington, George was successful in arresting Alford. As they began the trip back towards Fort Worth, the suspect’s family ambushed them, striking George with a shotgun blast.⁴ He was shot in the abdomen.⁵ George fought back and killed at least one of the Alford family members during the altercation. Shortly after the shooting, many felt that George would survive his wounds as his condition looked promising.⁶ However, on August 8, 1879, George died of complications in Arlington, TX. This made him the second Officer to die in the line of duty in Fort Worth.⁷ He was just 21 years old.

Alford was later rearrested and sentenced to 5 years, but the ruling was later overturned on appeal – on a technicality.⁸ George is buried alone with no family around him. He never married and there are no known direct descendants. The current headstone found at his grave was placed in 2002 by the Fort Worth Police Officers Association.⁹