Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

As our great great uncle you and along with dad’s side was in law enforcement and in a time when you worked as a farmer and an officer. You instilled in me nearly 13 long years of service in law enforcement, and committing my time and energy into cold cases and missing persons cases till this day. When myself, Jared, the mayor, and the State we all worked together as a team to get this in place. I have cherished every moment, every investigative work related to your case, had the situation been different like you hadn’t been mugged the night before Mx, and then having a gun unfamiliar to you, the only other fatal flaw in which the deputy parked alongside the car he and you knew was buck Barrow, and W. D. Jones. Had the car been parked 30 feet away and at a straight on location the doors could have given some resistance to that shotgun. Not much, but the heavy steel doors and windows rolled down it would have lost enough force to possibly see you less injured. You were a strong man. Not only surviving the volley of gunfire around you after being mortally wounded in the ditch you held on long enough for our great great aunt and my second great grandma to get there. You being conscious enough to give the information that ID’d them and scared them out of this area.

It was a pleasure working with everyone on getting this done and to see it done in a way to remember the hardworking husband, father, and Alma’s first line of defense. You served your community and protected them, in a time where most departments barely had any units for their beat cops. I am hoping and praying that a permanent monument is placed at the same location in the form of rock or stone. I don’t think very many except the old mayor and old police chief knows us as the nephews who’ve fought to keep your story alive. I have a meeting with an author who’s writing a book on you, and I extend my services to Chief Pointer and the individuals who’ve got your badge, the gun that belongs to our family, and your incident file that is in the police dept archives and maybe they still have your clothes you wore that day.

Your 1st great nephew grew up with the same grandparents you and our aunt visited on Sundays, he grew up wanting to be as tough as you, except he fibbed to the US Navy, and at the time forged his birthdate in a bible and signed grandma Jewells name, he went in as a 16 year old boy and was a United States Navy Seal and had 3 tours in Vietnam protecting his men, and the other forces and retired as the highest rank and awards of any Seabee retiring after over 25 years.

Thank you, tell dad, grandma Rhoda, Grandma Jewell, dad, our great grandpa John Wiley Wilson, and Uncle Willie.

I’ll be working with the city, and state to get you a permanent marker.

Dalton Coody
Medically Retired Law Enforcement

March 20, 2024

Henry D Humphrey was my great great uncle, my brother and I have secured a memorial mile for him to be presented shortly . Finally after years of hard work his service and sacrifice will be seen by more people.

Jared coody
Nephew

June 27, 2022

Thank you for your service and know that your sacrifice will never be forgotten. Rest in peace always.

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

June 26, 2020

I recently watched “The Highwaymen” which is the story of the hunt for and the eventual justice brought to Bonnie and Clyde. This film, in my humble opinion, unlike the previous movies, acknowledges and shows respect for the Law Enforcement Officers who lost their lives to these animals and does not show them to be any kind of folk hero. It was long overdue.

Though the name of each and every Officer is not mentioned, some are and I believe the sacrifice by all is honored.

God Bless you, Town Marshal Humphrey and may your eternal rest remain ever peaceful, Brother.

Ptl. Jim Leahy, Jr.
Harvard University Police Department

April 8, 2019

It is so sad that the Bonnie and Clyde Gang are so well known. As a society we glorify the criminals and either ignore Hero’s like you or make the Hero’s appear like the criminals. It is very sad that the names of Bonnie and Clyde are known even to our children, when it is your name Marshal Henry Humphrey that should be known. You are a hero and a man to be looked up to. May you rest in peace and thank you and your family for the ultimate sacrifice. WE are a better people today because you walked among us yesterday. God Bless

Detention Officer A.Zambito
Texas

June 26, 2015

Time may have passed but you are not forgotten. I believe as long as someone remembers you or speaks your name, you are still with us.
Thank you for your heroism.
GOD Bless

Detention Officer A.Zambito
Texas

June 26, 2015

I'm retired from the LAPD and just recently read the stories about Bonnie and Clyde. When I worked on the Los Angeles Police Dept in the Van Nuys area, a very good Policeman worked for me by the name of Neil Humphrey. He was from Russelville, Arkansas. He passed awhile back. Neil was one of those policemen who always seemed to be where the action was and caught a lot of criminals. He was a great cop. Since I retired to Mountain View, AR I have always been interested in all things Arkansas. I'll bet Neil was kin to Marshall Humphrey. The Humphrey's did their duty and my hats off to both of them. Law enforcement must have been in the Humphrey Blood.

Sgt, Curtis R. Feslerm LAPD Retired
Retired and now fishing.

December 26, 2013

Thank you for your service and for helping to make America a safer place.

Deputy Brian Jones
Boulder County Sheriff's Office, CO

January 29, 2013

To fully appreciate the heroes of the present, we must recognize our heroes of the past. Your heroism and service is honored today, the 79th anniversary year of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer who was murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

Time never diminishes respect. Your memory will always be honored and revered. Rest In Peace.

Phyllis Loya
Mom of fallen California Officer Larry Lasater, Pittsburg PD, eow 4/24/05

November 30, 2012

R. I. P. Marshal Henry D. Humphrey

Cheryl Davis
Family

August 28, 2012

You shall never be forgotten, A true Hero. RIP Sir.

James Kotke
Civilian / Former Officer
WSF Park Police (Wi.)

January 27, 2012

Rest in Peace, Town Marshal Humphrey. Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Officer 11169

May 19, 2008

"The Badge"
He starts his shift each day
To respond to calls unknown.
He drives a marked patrol car.
A police officer he is known.
He's paid by the citizens' taxes
To make it safe on the streets.
But he usually has a second job
'Cause a waitress has his salary beat.
Now he doesn't know a holiday
'Cause he works all year round.
And when Thanksgiving and Christmas finally arrive
At his home he cannot be found.
He's cursed and assaulted often,
The one whos blood runs blue.
He seldom ever gets a thanks,
To some he's just a fool.
His friends are always other cops
'Cause people just don't understand
That underneath his badge and gun,
He's just another man.
He knows there might not be a tomorrow
In this world of drugs and crime.
And he gets so mad at the court system
'Cause the crooks don't get any time.
And each day when he leaves for work,
He prays to God above.
Please bring me home after my shift
So I can see the ones I love.
But tonight he stops a speeding car,
He's alone down this ole' highway.
It's just a little traffic infraction.
He does it everyday.
Well, he walks up to the driver's window,
And his badge is shining bright.
He asked the guy for a driver's license,
When a shot rang through the night.
Yes, the bullet hit its mark,
Striking the officer in the chest.
But the Department's budget didn't buy
Each officer a bullet-proof vest.
So he lay on the ground bleeding.
His blood wasn't blue - His blood was red.
And briefly he thought of his loved ones
'Cause in a moment the officer was dead.
In the news they told the story
Of how this officer had died.
And some who listened cared less,
But those who loved him cried.
Well, they buried him in uniform
With his badge pinned on his chest.
He even had his revolver,
He died doing his best.
Written By:
David L. Bell
Sergeant
Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1999 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC

August 6, 2007

You paid the ultimate price 74 years ago today. When I was a child, I read stories of Bonnie & Clyde as well as about you. I was particularly interested since Alma is in such close proximity to Fayetteville. Thank you for your dedication and your service. You are NOT forgotten. You ARE a hero.

Retired SGT Mark Hanna
Fayetteville, AR PD

June 26, 2007

Your sacrifie will forever be remembered. You will always be known as a hero.

LEO SPOUSE
OHIO

March 12, 2007

Rest in peace, Sir! You will never be forgotten.

Police Officer

April 24, 2006

Although your death was over 72 years ago, that does not mean your service to the city of Alma and the state of Arkansas is forgotten. Thank you for your dedication to protecting your citizens and upholding the law.

Janice Brown
Conway, Arkansas
civilian

Janice Brown

February 19, 2006

I give a whole-hearted "SECOND" to the reflection left by Ret. Chief Watford. You may be gone, Marshal, but will NEVER be forgotten.

Retired SGT Mark Hanna
Fayetteville, AR PD

February 28, 2005

MY BROTHER, MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND MAY YOU REST IN PEACE. IT MAKES ME SICK THAT A MOVIE AND SONG WAS CUT TO THESE COP KILLERS. A MOVIE SHOULD BE MADE IN HONOR OF THE OFFICERS WHO PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. YOU ARE TRULY A HERO. YOU SERVED WELL.

CHIEF RONNIE WATFORD-RET.
JEFFERSON POLICE DEPT,S.C.

April 27, 2004