Bio & Incident Details
Age: 57
Tour: 1 year
Badge # Not available
Cause: Duty related illness
Incident Date: 10/7/1918
Weapon: Not available
Suspect: Not available
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Ben Pennington had been a lawman for 20 years, 12 years as city marshal of Holland in Bell County, and 8 years as an elected Precinct 3 Bell County constable. On October 4, 1917, at age 56, he enlisted as a Texas Ranger private and was posted to Brewster County in far West Texas.
As Spanish Influenza killed millions throughout the world, officials in El Paso requested assistance from the Texas Rangers. Privates Pennington and Robert E. Hunt were dispatched to keep order. Both men contracted the influenza. Pennington became ill on October 7 and died on October 12. Hunt died on October 16.
Private Pennington was a well known officer and over his career had been shot 16 times and lost an eye in various gun battles. He was survived by his wife. He was buried in the Jackson Cemetery in Bell County.
Related Line of Duty Deaths
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Private Robert Ernest Hunt |
