Conservation Officer Denver Earlington Tabor

Denver Tabor was known to me as “Uncke Den”. What the end of watch doesn’t tell you about him is that he and his partner were working on the Ohio River. His partner’s grandson was with them. Their boat hit something in the river and the boy was knocked overboard. Without a moment to think, my uncle went into the river to retrieve the boy. As his partner held out an oar, and my uncle, with boy in his grasp, reached for it, an eddy sucked him and the boy down under the water. My uncle could’ve saved himself, but he wouldn’t release the child and they both drowned. My daddy told me that when they were found the next day, my uncle still had the boy in his arms. My Uncle Den left behind the love of his life, Linda, and two young children. He left a hole in our family that still exists 47 years later.

Natalie McPherson
Niece

July 20, 2020