Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Today, a beautiful couple bought lunch for 7 of our deputies in honor of their friend's memory, Patrolman Tull. Thank you sir for your service to our Nation and the wonderful State of Texas.

Lt. Pendley
Williamson County Constable Pct 4

November 7, 2024

Patrolman Tull,
On today, the 50th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice-not just as a Law Enforcement Officer but for our Country as well when you served with the U.S. Navy during World War II. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

Fair Winds And Following Seas

BPA Mike Casey
United States Border Patrol(Retired)

September 14, 2024

Hello,

While I personally don't remember Mr. Tull, we lived next door to him/family in Temple, Texas. I remember seeing in a time or two and my parents talk fondly of him. RIP Mr. Tull and thank you for your service.

Christy Dowdle

August 25, 2024

To his family and friends,

I remember Hollie Tull as well. My father, Allen Graham, died exactly two weeks prior to Hollie's death. Hollie and Dad were good friends. In doing some genealogy work, I'm reviewing the guest registry of my father's funeral and I came across Hollie's entry in the log. I didn't have many documents with my father's signature. Maybe Hollie's family doesn't either. If you'd like, I can send you a picture of his entry. I also remember singing in the choir at Hollie's funeral. It was an honor to do so. Many remarked that Hollie and my dad might be riding horses together in Heaven that day.

Stephen Graham
Friend of the family

September 8, 2021

My dad, Hollie L. Tull, was honored by my daughter Shileah Pleasant Marler in following in his footsteps into law enforcement. She completed a masters in intelligence analysis and then graduated from the Garland Police Department in December of 2021. Her boyfriend, now husband, proposed to her in front of the Bell County Memorial to Fallen Officers in Bell County.
I am so proud of her for her courage, strength, and fortitude. My son, Paul Pleasant, also has a goal of becoming a police officer. So proud of him as well.

Patsy Tull Pleasant
Daughter

July 15, 2021

Bethelline
Just letting you know that you come to mind every time that I hear about another senseless officer shooting. My hope is that God has granted you the serenity to live beyond that loss.
Paul Comer

Friend
Friend

December 25, 2020

Rest in peace always and know that your service and sacrifice will never, ever be forgotten by your law enforcement brethren.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police (Retired)

September 14, 2020

We visited the Bell County Justice complex today and saw the memorial. We were surprised to see there was no placard nearby so I decided to Google the name and learned of Patrolman Tull's tragic death. He died before I was born (1979) and long before I moved to Temple in 2015, but the memorial was incredibly moving. I thanked him for fulfilling his duty so honorably and hope his family continues to be able to honor him.

Charity Starrett
Visitor

March 16, 2020

As I am sitting on the floor of my house in Arlington, TX cleaning out a closet, I have come across a scrapbook of my Granny Smith’s. It’s in my lap right now and I’m reading the articles about Patrolman Hollie Tull. My grandparents, Cass and Ruth Smith, lived in Satin and knew the Tull family very well. I never met Hollie but knew his father and mother as I visited my grandparents often in Satin, TX. Everyone in Satin was so proud of Patrolman Tull. My Mama, Sylvia Smith Holland, said he was their own Matt Dillon. I remember the day my parents attended his burial under a tree on their land in Satin.

Connie Jo Holland

March 18, 2019

RIP Trooper Tull

Deputy Constable Anonymous Anonymous
31 years of service

April 12, 2018

I was a reporter for the Temple Daily Telegram from January 1974 through March 1979z I often encountered Hollie Tull and his partner, Sam Bartholomae, at the Temple PD. The day of his death, I was in Grand Prairie visiting my parents. I was out shopping when I heard of Hollie’s death onbthe car radio. He was not identified, but I said to myself, “I sure hope it wasn’t Hollie Tull.” I was much saddened when I returned to Temple
the next day and learned that indeed it was he. May he Rest In Peace. He and Sam Bartholomew were good officers and very congenial men. I still have the Temple Daily Telegram front-page article on Hollie’s death and I still remember him. The picture of him — the only picture I’ve ever seen of him - was the first picture I ever took for the Telegram, and it was when the Temple Exchange Club honored him as Patrolman of the Month earlier in 1974. Obviously, I was no great hand with a camera, and the photo didn’t do justice to him or the occasion of his well-deserved honor. But when he was killed, it was the only picture in the newspaper’s files. Like many who knew Hollie better than I did, I appreciated all the good I saw in him and I still remember him and Sam fondly. Sam pulled up behind my stopped carcalong I-35 on a snowy New Year’s night in 1978. I was having difficulty removing the quick-hardening ice from my windshield so I could drive up to mynparents’ Home. Sam knew me and gave me a piece of friendly advice NOT to go that night, and I didn’t. I salute these two great public servants and wish Hollie’s family well.

Michael Parker (Journalist)
Friend

December 11, 2017

Hollie and my Dad (George Edwin Tull) were first cousins and I was just shy of my 10th birthday when this happened so I don't remember a lot about it. But I do recall the endless line of law enforcement cars on the day of the funeral and all the respect that was shown for him and for the great job he did and the respect he earned as a law enforcement officer by fellow officers and friends and acquaintances over the years. This was definitely one of the deciding factors that led me into law enforcement as a career and am proud to say I have dedicated almost 30 years to law enforcement due in part to Hollie!

Investigator Stuart Tull
Coryell County Attorney's Office

September 22, 2017

I was in Austin at the DPS barricks for a Investigator school in 1927. Some one at the academy ask me if I was related to Hollis. I had never met or heard of him at the time. I got his phone number with plans to call him later. Then I heard he had been killed in the line of duty. So sad and I was so sorry I never reached out to him to meet.

Senior Cpl. Charles S. Tull
Dallas Police Dept/

October 3, 2016

I never met Texas Patrolman Hollie Tull. I did work with his wife when we were teachers at Bonham Jr. High School. I taught one year and then started my career with DPS in 1975

Retired Senior Corporal V.
Texas Dept. of Public Safety

September 15, 2016

I knew Hollie back in Temple and actually rode with him a few times and attended church at Meadow Oaks Baptist Church. I thought a lot of him, and regarded him as a good friend. I have a few very good stories about/with him I could share with anyone.
Bill Pryor
Katy, Texas

Bill Pryor
Friend

July 16, 2016

Daddy has a 4th great grandchild--Mabrey Pearl was born August 19, 2015! I visit this sight from time to time and appreciate the stories about Daddy more than you know. Please look me up on Facebook. I would love to be in contact with each of you.

Bethelline Tull Schaefer
Daughter

November 11, 2015

Gone but not forgotten.

Lieutenant
Texas Department of Public Safety - CID - Temple

September 6, 2015

I REMEMBER HOLLIE VERY WELL, I WORKED FOR MUGS CATHORN STORE ON 2304 BACK IN THE LATE 60S, HOLLIE WOULD SOME TIMES STOP IN AT CLOSING TIME, AFTER I CLOSED THE STORE AT THE AGE OF 17, HE WOULD LET ME RIDE WITH HIM SOMETIMES AT NITE, I RELLY LOOKED UP TO HIM, HE WAS A GREAT MAN, I REMEMBER THE DAY HE LOST HIS LIFE IN THE LINE OF DUTY.WAS A VERY SAD DAY FOR BELL COUNTY. I ALSO RODE WITH TOM LOVELACE, THESE TWO WERE GREAT LAW ENFORCMENT OFFICER.

LARRY ROSE
FRIENDS

June 29, 2015

I too remember this, I was stopped in a roadblock that was set up when this happened and it was very frightening and so heart breaking. I remember always seeing a large portrait of Trooper Tull in a memorial case dedicated to him that was in the entry way of the Criminal Justice building at local college. Little did I know that before long there would be another memorial there, this time for my beloved husband Carl LeVin who was killed in the line of duty in Harker Heights Tx on August 7, 1978. A few weeks after Carl's death I answered a knock on my door one afternoon and when I opened the door there stood a lovely lady who said "I am Nellwyn Tull." I literally fell into her arms! She took me under her wing and helped guide me through all that was to come. I have lost touch with Nellwyn but she made a strong impact on my life. Where ever you are Nellwyn, I thank you andI love you.

Anna LeVin

January 6, 2015

Bethelline was in United Day School with me when the family was stationed in Laredo. I spent many a great day playing with her and Patsy. I remember to this day Trooper Tull coming home in his uniform and how he carried himself. It left such an impact on this little girl.

Sue Johnson Thompson
Friend

January 5, 2015

Even though I never had the pleasure of meeting Trooper Tull, I remember the incident like it was yesterday. I was only 8 years old at the time. The incident happened not far from the neighborhood I grew up in until I was 7 years old. I was always "intrigued" by police officers, and I always "respected" the men and women that carried a "badge". My daddy always wanted to be a "TX Ranger" back in the day. My heart goes out the Trooper Tull's family and fellow officers. You see, I married a police officer 23 years ago, and I have attended several funerals of officers that were killed in the "Line of Duty". Each night I pray for ALL the officers around the world that they will come home safely to their families. May God Bless Trooper Tull's family and friends! Thank you for your service, Sir, and may you REST IN PEACE!

Tammy Avant Ramsey

September 15, 2014

Hello Everyone! Just wanted to let you know that my Daddy has three great grandchildren. Mckinleigh Grace and Jase Randall and Calvin Lamar who was born September 14, 2013. Isn't that amazing!

Bethelline Tull Schaefer
Daughter

August 22, 2014

Today my daughter, Sgt. Susan Cotter, was at a training with the DPS. She sent me a message and included Hollie's picture. My reply was that it brought back a "flood of memories and tears".
Bethelline and Patsy swam with the Boys Club swim team. What a lovely family. True Christians. I have such fond memories of all the family. Thanks to our law enforcement who try their best to protect us. They protect and serve. Some give their all... as did Hollie. May God watch over and protect all of them. Hugs to the family.

Janice (Ponder) Gautreaux
friend of the family

January 30, 2014

Hello, On a cold winter day here in Temple,Tx I felt I would share my childhood memories of Hollie. I first met Hollie at around age 6 and almost 10 years of age upon his passing. My dad HD Wofford Jr would sometimes ride with Hollie on his shifts and Hollie would also stop by and visit at our house in his patrol car. He would also bring fish by the house and give to us. I remember putting it in the freezer at times. We would also go down to Satin to Hollie dad's house and travel to the brazos river and camp out and fish at the carbodies. I remember watching Hollie's dad running trot lines in a small flat bottom boat. He would catch a lot of nice yellow cats. Hollies mother and father were always very nice people and would let us come right in the house. Still remember photos of Hollie standing in front of his patrol car. Now to go back in time as a young boy playing cops and robbers and things of the sort. Hollie would often stop by in his patrol car and let me sit in the drivers seat and turn on the siren and even handcuffed me a time or two. I must say to a young boy that is worth more than a million dollars. I still remember his distinct voice like it was yesterday. One time i was in the back yard and had taken the rear wheel of my bicycle and it sure came off easier than it was going back on. Hollie stepped around the corner in uniform and looked at me as I am sure he knew i had no ideal what i was doing. He got down on his knees and helped me put it all back together on the spot. I was happy and thankful for what he had done...Also one time i was at Hollies house in town and there a couple of double barrel shotguns under the bed. He was showing us and i cannot recall if i ask if i could have one. More than likely that was the case. Hollie said yes you can have one when you get older. I am sure I lit up like a Christmas tree. As to whoever might be reading this post. I know it's just a bunch of little things that I am sharing here today. Certainly there is a very valid point to this story. We as a people must be very careful of the examples we display to others as they might last longer than life itself. Especially in chiildren...Mr tull as this is how i always addressed him was a very kind and generous man that loved people. I am very glad to have ever met him and thankful for the impressions he made on me as a child.

Richard L Wofford
Friend

December 14, 2013

I am overwhelmed with the stories and thoughts about my Daddy. Thank-you so much for remembering him and taking the time to share with my children and grandchildren. If only Daddy could have had the chance to know them ...

Bethelline Tull Schaefee
Daughter

May 8, 2013