Joe Dale Hartman, Deputy City Marshal

City of Texhoma

About 4 A.M. the morning of Sunday, May 20, 1962, City Marshal William A. “Bill” James and Deputy City Marshal Hartman had taken Kenneth James Hoover, 24, home after finding him drunk near the downtown area of Texhoma. Hoover did not stay home and walked back downtown where the officers took him into custody again after a brief fight. The officers took him to City Hall where Hoover hit Marshal James in the head and escaped. Hoover went home and got a 12-gauge shotgun and returned to City Hall because he felt the officers had been harassing him. Hoover saw Marshal James through a window and opened fire on him, killing him. Hoover reloaded and went inside where he saw the unarmed Deputy Hartman go into a room and close the door behind him. Deputy Hartman leaned against the door to keep Hoover out. Hoover then fired through the door, fatally wounding Hartman. The shotgun was found at the scene by responding officers and Hoover was located hiding in a ditch a few blocks away. Deputy Hartman was unmarried.

William Aaron "Bill" James, City Marshal

City of Texhoma

About 4 A.M. the morning of Sunday, May 20, 1962, City Marshal, 24, James and Deputy City Marshal Joe Dale Hartman had taken Kenneth James Hoover, 24, home after finding him drunk near the downtown area of Texhoma. Hoover did not stay home and walked back downtown where the officers took him into custody again after a brief fight. The officers took him to City Hall where Hoover hit Marshal James in the head and escaped. Hoover went home and got a 12-gauge shotgun and returned to City Hall because he felt the officers had been harassing him. Hoover saw Marshal James through a window and opened fire on him, killing him. Hoover reloaded and went inside where he saw the unarmed Deputy Hartman go into a room and close the door behind him. Deputy Hartman leaned against the door to keep Hoover out. Hoover then fired through the door, fatally wounding Hartman. The shotgun was found at the scene by responding officers and Hoover was located hiding in a ditch a few blocks away. Marshal James was survived by his wife and two children.