Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol, Texas
End of Watch Saturday, September 14, 1974
Add to My HeroesHollie Lamar Tull
Patrolman Hollie Tull was shot and killed after stopping two men who had just committed a bank robbery of the Walburg State Bank in Walburg near Georgetown.
During the robbery, the suspects made everyone lie face down on the floor. They shot three in the head without provocation. Miraculously, all three survived. Two were treated and released. One was admitted to a hospital in serious condition.
Patrolman Tull stopped the suspects at 30th Street, near the Temple landfill. While holding one of the suspect's ID cards, he was struck by two shotgun blasts. Despite being severely wounded, Patrolman Tull was able to return to his patrol car to retrieve his shotgun and alert other officers of his location. The suspects followed him to the vehicle, and he continued to struggle with them before being shot several more times with a .32 caliber handgun.
The suspects, both 20, were AWOL soldiers from Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Both were captured, convicted, and sentenced to death. Their death sentences were later reduced to life in prison. One was denied parole on February 19, 2016. His next parole hearing is in February of 2026. The other suspect was denied parole on July 6, 2018, and July 2023.
Patrolman Tull was a United States Navy WWII veteran and had served with the Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol for 14 years, assigned to Temple. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, parents, and a sister.
Bio
- Age 48
- Tour 14 years
- Badge Not available
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Handgun; .32 caliber
- Offender Sentenced to life in prison
Most Recent Reflection
View all 40 ReflectionsTo 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
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