The Colonel C. W. Woodson, Jr. Memorial Gallery is dedicated to those members of the Virginia State Police and their predecessors, the inspectors of the Division of Motor Vehicles, who gave their lives in the preservation of law and order, and who, in so doing, lived and died in the best traditions of law enforcement's duty and service to mankind.
Late in the Fall of 1943, Colonel Woodson, then Superintendent of the Virginia State Police, and Mr. G. Watson James, Jr., an employee of the Division of Motor Vehicles, agreed that portraits of sworn members of the State Police who had given their lives in the line of duty would be an appropriate and lasting memorial. Although there were no funds available for the project, Mr. James contacted a number of artists and requested they prepare a portrait as a gift to the gallery, then known as the Memorial Art Gallery.
We are grateful to Mr. James and to every artist who has prepared a portrait for the gallery, which was relocated from the Department's Administrative Headquarters Building to the State Police Academy in 1989. The gallery was renamed at that time to also serve as a memorial to the late Colonel Woodson.
The Department's Police Officers' Memorial Service is held each year during National Law Enforcement Week at the State Police Academy, 7700 Midlothian Turnpike, Chesterfield County.On March 7, 2013, Master Trooper Walker was shot and killed during a welfare check on a motorist stopped on the shoulder of Interstate 85 in Dinwiddie County. |
Junius A. Walker 1949 – 2013 |
Andrew D. Fox
1984 - 2012 |
On the evening of October 5, 2012, Trooper Fox was working a special assignment in Hanover County. At approximately 9:53 p.m., Fox and other troopers were directing traffic through the intersection of Route 30 and Theme Park Way when an SUV traveling through the intersection struck Trooper Fox. He was transported to VCU Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries. |
Trooper Adam M. Bowen was killed in a traffic crash |
Adam M. Bowen
1982 - 2011 |
Mark D. Barrett
1969 - 2010 |
Trooper Mark D. Barrett, a member of the VSP Search and Recovery Team, was participating in the team’s annual dive training on the afternoon of September 14, 2010, in Lake Anna near Louisa County when he experienced a medical complication underwater. Despite aggressive medical resuscitation by team members and paramedics, he passed away later that night. |
On the afternoon of April 25, 2007, Motorist Assistance Aide (MA) Jarratt had pulled off onto the right shoulder of the northbound lanes of I-95 to respond to a call for debris in the roadway. While attempting to remove a large piece of tire tread from the center lane MA Jarratt was struck by an oncoming tractor-trailer and died at the scene. |
Horace Jarratt
1941 - 2007 |
Robert A. Hill, Sr.
1964 - 2006 |
Senior Trooper Robert A. Hill, Sr. was in the process of issuing a summons to a stopped motorist on the afternoon of November 24, 2006, in Southampton County, when he was struck and killed by a passing vehicle. |
Trooper Kevin C. Manion was killed on February 18, 2006, while responding to the scene of a single-vehicle crash in Clarke County. As the damaged vehicle was being moved, a firearm inside it discharged, striking him in the chest. |
Kevin C. Manion
1978 - 2006 |
Michael T. Blanton
1973 - 2003 |
Trooper Michael T. Blanton died on January 29, 2003 from injuries sustained on I-64 in Henrico County when the car of a suspected drinking driver whom he had attempted to question crashed, rolled over and pinned his body underneath. |
Trooper Cosslett was killed on October 23, 2002 on Interstate 95 in Fairfax County after a tow truck veered into the path of his motorcycle and struck him, causing him to be ejected from his vehicle. |
C. Mark Cosslett
1962-2002 |
Daniel Lee Williams
1961 - 1999 |
Trooper Williams passed away on December 12, 1999, from injuries sustained in a crash while trying to overtake a suspect on December 10 in Cumberland County. |
Trooper Cheney was struck and killed by a motor vehicle January 17, 1998, while directing traffic at the scene of a motor vehicle crash on U. S. Route 1 near Fredericksburg. |
Jessica Jean Cheney
1974-1998 |
Norman Wesley Hampton
1937-1997 |
Retired Sergeant Hampton died June 3, 1997, rescuing a young boy from the storm-tossed ocean at Pawley's Island, SC. |
Trooper Fleenor was killed December 12, 1996, in a crash while trying to overtake a suspected drinking driver in Hanover County. |
Gregory Patton Fleenor
1966-1996 |
Henry Noel Harmon
1929-1995 |
Trooper Harmon was shot in the neck January 10, 1960, in Pittsylvania County, and died February 7, 1995, due to complications from the wound. |
Trooper Cavazos was shot and killed February 24, 1993, by a motorist following a traffic stop in Prince William County. |
Jose M. Cavazos
1942-1993 |
Jerry Lynn Hines
1940-1989 |
Trooper Hines was shot and killed February 20, 1989, following a traffic stop on Interstate 81 near Lexington. |
Trooper Vernon was struck and killed August 16, 1988, by a bus on Interstate 395 following a traffic stop in Alexandria. |
Jacqueline Vernon
1955-1988 |
Harry Lee Henderson
1944-1987 |
Trooper Henderson was killed March 17, 1987, when he was struck by a truck on Interstate 66 in Warren County. |
Trooper Cochran was shot and killed January 15, 1987, while responding to a domestic argument in Fairfax County. |
Alexander M. Cochran, III
1959-1987 |
Ricky Marshall McCoy
1957-1986 |
Trooper McCoy was shot and killed January 3, 1986, by two motorists following a traffic stop on Interstate 81 in Salem. |
Trooper Whitt was shot and killed April 12, 1985, by a motorist he stopped on Interstate 95 in Prince George County. |
Leo Whitt
1936-1985 |
James LeRoy Biggs
1937-1984 |
Sergeant Biggs was shot and killed December 18, 1984, by a motorist after a traffic stop in Alleghany County. |
Trooper Bowman was stabbed and killed on Sunday, August 19, 1984, at his home in Manassas by an unknown assailant. |
Johnny Rush Bowman
1952-1984 |
Rodney Dean Grimes
1944-1983 |
Special Agent in Charge Grimes was killed October 9, 1983, in a motor vehicle crash on Route 55 in Shenandoah County. |
Trooper Farmer was killed in a crash September 3, 1981, during the pursuit of a violator on Route 639 in Caroline County. |
Robin Lee Farmer
1955-1981 |
Robert Tinsley Lohr
1955-1978 |
Trooper Lohr was struck by a car and killed July 22, 1978, while assisting a motorist on Interstate 95 near Carmel Church. |
Trooper Wright was killed in a crash January 17, 1976, during the pursuit of a violator on Route 696 in Halifax County. |
Bernard Walter Wright
1937-1976 |
Garland West Fisher, Jr.
1943-1976 |
Trooper Fisher was shot and killed November 15, 1976, near Durham, N. C. He had been abducted the day before his death. |
Investigator Seymour was killed April 25, 1975, in a motor vehicle crash that occurred on U. S. Route 1 in Spotsylvania County. |
Claude Everett Seymour
1924-1975 |
James Read Hughes
1946-1974 |
Trooper Hughes was struck and killed June 3, 1974, in Fairfax County, by a truck following a traffic stop of a motorist. |
Trooper Kennedy was killed November 5, 1973, in a pursuit crash on Route 208 in Spotsylvania County. |
Rannie DeWitt Kennedy
1940-1973 |
Donald Edward Lovelace
1944-1970 |
Trooper Lovelace was struck and killed October 18, 1970, during a traffic stop near Newport News. |
Trooper Bussard was killed May 5, 1970, in a crash near Dumfries responding to a call. |
Jackie Monroe Bussard
1948-1970 |
Warren Yokley Harless
1930-1968 |
Trooper Harless was killed November 18, 1968, assisting the Lee County Sheriff's Office with an arrest situation. |
Trooper Miller was fatally injured June 13, 1963, in a crash that occurred near the City of Williamsburg. |
Garland Matthew Miller
1934-1963 |
Charles Eugene Morris
1931-1962 |
Trooper Morris was shot and killed March 2, 1962, while assisting the Patrick County Sheriff's Office with an arrest. |
Trooper Brooks was hit by a car and fatally injured June 10, 1956, while investigating a crash in Pittsylvania County. |
Henry Murray Brooks, Jr.
1927-1956 |
Robert Louis Loder, Jr.
1931-1954 |
Trooper Loder was killed in a motor vehicle crash January 31, 1954, while patrolling U. S. Route 1 in Hanover County. |
Trooper Giles died July 23, 1954, from gunshot wounds suffered while he was attempting to make an arrest in Coeburn. |
Robert Fulton Giles
1930-1954 |
Walter Sinton Parrish
1929-1953 |
Trooper Parrish was killed in a motor vehicle crash October 4, 1953, while patrolling Route 350 in Fairfax County. |
Trooper Smith was killed November 21, 1951, in an automobile and train collision that occurred in Pamplin. |
Robert Wright Smith
1914-1951 |
Wallace Monroe Simpson
1910-1951 |
Investigator Simpson was shot and killed October 23, 1951, while arresting an escaped inmate near Petersburg. |
Trooper Porter was killed June 20, 1950, in a plane crash near Allmonds Wharf while on a mission as an observer. |
Robert Edward Porter
1928-1950 |
Joseph Benjamin Thomas
1917-1950 |
Trooper Thomas, pilot, was killed June 20, 1950, in a plane crash near Allmonds Wharf while on a Department mission. |
Trooper Caldwell was killed June 17, 1948, near Newport News, in a motor vehicle crash that occurred while he was in pursuit of a traffic violator. |
Robert Elvin Caldwell
1922-1948 |
William H. Andrews
1920-1946 |
Trooper Andrews succumbed October 3, 1946, to injuries he received in a motor vehicle crash three days earlier in Nottoway County. |
Trooper Flippen, on a military leave of absence, was reported killed in action February 7, 1945, in World War II. |
William T. Flippen, Jr.
1917-1945 |
George Franklin Miller
1904-1945 |
Trooper Miller, on a military leave of absence, was reported killed in action January 20, 1945, in World War II. |
License Examiner Hagerman, on a military leave of absence, was reported missing in action |
Charles E. Hagerman
1918-1943 |
William Stafford Tinsley
1911-1942 |
Trooper Tinsley was killed September 5, 1942, in a motor vehicle crash which occurred west of Roanoke on Route 11. |
Trooper Mayo succumbed February 19, 1941, to injuries he suffered in a motor vehicle crash that occurred two days earlier in Hampton. |
Urshell Thomas Mayo
1911-1941 |
Clarence Lemuel Maynard
1899-1939 |
Sergeant Maynard succumbed September 9, 1939, to injuries suffered earlier while responding to the assistance of a citizen near Abingdon. |
Sergeant Puckett died March 28, 1938, from pneumonia contracted while pursuing and arresting a murder suspect in Southwest Virginia. |
Charles William Puckett
1892-1938 |
William R. Thompson
1902-1935 |
Trooper Thompson was shot and killed September 23, 1935, while attempting to arrest three bank robbers at Fork Union. |
Trooper Bullock succumbed February 15, 1934, to injuries received in a motorcycle crash near Fairfax several months earlier. |
Charles Bazil Bullock
1908-1934 |
Thomas Allen Belt
1883-1930 |
Inspector Belt succumbed August 18, 1930, to injuries received in a motorcycle crash several days earlier in Loudoun County. |
Inspector Wood was killed March 11, 1929, in a crash with an intoxicated driver while patrolling on his motorcycle in James City County. |
Curtis Lee Wood
1898-1929 |
Phillip C. Via
1890-1929 |
Inspector Via succumbed January 11, 1929, to injuries received while serving as an escort for President Coolidge near Waynesboro. |
Inspector Hatcher succumbed August 19, 1928, to injuries received while attempting to arrest a murder suspect in Culpeper County. |
W. Neville Hatcher
1902-1928 |
Artists who have provided portraits for the gallery are Gertrude K. Russi, Frank S. Rowley, Jr., George H. Ben Johnson, Thomas Allen Belt, James E. True, Elizabeth Nottingham (Day), G. Watson James, Jr., Pierre Daura, Adele Clark, James F. Banks, Hugo Stevens, Greta Matson, Belle Worsham, Jewett Campbell, R. Vernon Hunter, Walter Whitehead, Helen Schuyler (Hull) Bailey, E. Wray Bernicchi, John D. Slavin, Charles Ingle, Jeanne Begien Campbell, Beatrice T. Klein, Marie Whitehurst, Milton Hull, Robert Simmons Fuller, Virginia W. Harrison, Eloise W. Atkinson, Donald Edward Poore, and Merrily C. Johnstone.