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Sam Houston Randolph
Oct 20, 1882 - May 25, 1934
Posted by Martha Reddout

© Marietta Monitor
9 May 2008, Pages 1 & 3

Slain Love County Sheriff to be honored


The name of a Love County Sheriff murdered in 1934 will be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial next week. Sam H. Randolph is one of 13 Oklahoma law enforcement officers who will be honored at a candlelight ceremony in Washington D.C. on May 13.

Randolph was gunned down in May 1934 by a fellow officer in a Thackerville store. Thackerville Constable John Smith shot Randolph during an argument.

At the time of the shooting, Randolph was on a campaign visit and unarmed. Smith came into the store, and the two men exchanged words. The Sheriff suffered a single gunshot wound to the heart.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial was established some 20 years ago to honor officers who died in the line of duty. There is a total of 18,269 names engraved on the memorial wall.

Randolph’s granddaughter, Phyllis Pritchard Dean, formerly of Marietta, and her husband Michael Dean will attend the 20th Annual Candlelight Vigil Tuesday when his name is formally added to the memorial.

Research is currently being done to gather facts about the shooting for a story to be published in the Monitor in the near future. The shooting and manhunt for Smith attracted nationwide attention and were reported in detail by several newspapers in both Oklahoma and Texas.

A photo of Sheriff Sam H. Randolph was included in this article.

FYI: I'm sure I will come across more info on the murder. 


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