Surname Index
Updated: 21 Sep 2012

[photo much like the one found on the sites listed below] Galyon, Reese, Jr. Patrolman, Oklahoma City Police Dept.

Officer Galyon's first name is misspelled on the memorial as "Reece". Reese Franklin Galyon Jr. was born on June 8, 1917, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the son of an OCPD Captain. Following service in the Navy in World War II, Galyon joined the OCPD on October 1, 1947, and became a motorcycle officer. On December 22, 1951, Galyon, 34, was pursuing a motorist speeding north on Lincoln Boulevard near the State Capitol in a black Mercury convertible. Evidence at the scene indicated that the motorist crowded Galyon into the curb, causing him to crash at more than 80 miles per hour.

His partner, H. A. McGill, had been pursing another speeding motorist in another direction when Galyon engaged in his fatal pursuit.

Galyon was the second of a four generation OCPD family. His father had retired from the OCPD as a Captain. The revolver Galyon [Jr.] carried had been handed down to him by his father. The revolver was given to Galyon's eldest son. Another son, Justin Brent Galyon, became an OCPD officer in 1971 and his grandson, Paul joined in 1994.

In spite of checking over 500 cars fitting the description of the suspect vehicle and citizens offering over $1,100 in rewards for his capture, Galyon's assailant was never identified. Investigative leads were being checked on the case as late as 1977, 26 years after Galyon's death.

photo courtesy Teafor2.com July 2009.

Daily Oklahoman, The
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
July 13, 1925, page 3

THEY HIDE BEHIND THE CORNERS

Caption under photo reads
"This is a "tip-off" picture on the city speed cops. They are the boys who wait around hidden corners for a careless motorist to break a few traffic laws. The officers are, left to right: Grover Gaines, Guy Mitchell, Reese Galyon, George Kerr, Frank Cissne, Earl Rardin and R. A. Mosey. The officer are no long furnished machines by the city and are shown on the motors which they purchased July 1.

Also see Oklahoma City Police Department "Fallen Heroes" link on the right side - They have a photo of Reese Galyon, Jr. and a short blurb about his death. 

Official Web Site of the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Memorial has a bit of information and a photo.

Daily Oklahoman, The
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
May 1, 1914, page 7

Two Injured in Crash

Dell Bruce, police chauffer, and Reese Galyon Jr., city foreman were seriously injured late Thursday when Galyon's motorcycle crashed into the heavier car...

Daily Oklahoman, The
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
June 21, 1938, page 22

Car Smashed After Chase
Policeman's Son and Youth Injured in Crash

...the nineteen year-old son of a veteran city policeman and his companion were injured Monday night when their car crashed through a stop sign....

Both the policeman's son, Reese Galyon Jr., 2430 Northwest Fourteenth and Leon Burgess, 2431 Northwest Fourteenth street, were thrown from the car, the top of which was torn off as it overturned several times after knocking down the stop sign...

Galyon's father is municipal court clerk. Galyon said the car in which the boys were riding was his.

Daily Oklahoman, The
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
November 5, 1947, page 12

Young Galyon Following Kin On Oklahoma City Police Force

Police work just seems to come natural to the Galyon family and for the past 40 years a Reese Franklin Galyon has answered a roll call at headquarters.

Since October 1, there have been two Reese Franklin Galyons working at headquarters and if Reese Franklin III, 8, has his way, there will be another, come 1960.

The Gaylon name graced the police department payroll a year after statehood when Reese Franklin Galyon Sr. moved to Oklahoma City from Knoxville, Tenn.

Galyon walked a beat on W Grand when that was one of the few main streets of Oklahoma City. He died in 1919 but no before his son, Reese Franklin jr., present municipal court clerk, joined the force.

Galyon Jr. rode one of the first police motorcycles, worked as a detective and a uniform officer before being elevated to clerk of the court 15 years ago.

In October this year, Reese Fanklin II, a navy veteran, started to work on the uniform patrol and says he's going to make a career out of police work.

Then there's Reese Franklin III, 8, son of the navy veteran, who wants to be a policeman and knows some of the tricks of the profession.

He's in the third grade at Putnam City school and already knows some of the police radio code signs.

Daily Oklahoman, The
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
December 25, 1951, page 14

300 Pay Final Tribute to City Traffic Officer

Christmas eve saw the last chapter written in the life of a heroic city motorcycle officer who died Saturday in the line of duty - that of preventing as many holiday traffic deaths as possible.

More than 300 persons paid final respects to  34-year-old Reese Galyon, Jr. in Street & Draper funeral chapel Monday, as citizens and businessmen boosted reward money for the hit and run driver involved in his death to more than $650.

More than 100 uniformed officers served as an honor guard for their companion. Virtually every county and city officer stood uncovered in mournful silence as final religious and Masonic rites were administered.

The crowd also included scores of other people who cam simply to honor a policeman they never knew.

A hundred floral wreaths flanked the uniformed officer's casket. The hat and badge he wore to his death lay on his chest. Eight police squad cars and six motorcycle officers escorted the funeral procession of more than 50 cars to Fairlawn cemetery.

A fund to help Galyon's three children was launched Monday by city businessmen...

Galyon was the son of Reese Galyon Sr., a former motorcycle office and present police court clerk. His service gun, given to him by his father, will be given to the dead officer's 12 year old son, Reese Galyon III.

Daily Oklahoman, The
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
December 24, 1951, page 19

Reward Is Posted For Hit-Run Driver In Officer's Death

Police launched one of their biggest manhunts in history Sunday in an attempt to find the driver of a late model black convertible involved in the death of R. F. Galyon Jr., 34 year-old motorcycle officer, Saturday night.

...traffic division ordered every "black Mercury convertible in Oklahoma City checked and re-checked."

Galyon, one of the most popular officers on the force, was killed shortly after 10 pm Saturday when a speeding motorist crowded him into the curb just south [of] the Capitol building in the 2300 block N Lincoln. The driver did not stop... Galyon was "probably traveling about 80 miles an hour when his motorcycle flipped."  The officer died instantly. The accident happened on a street island at the southeast edge of the capitol... The motorcycle flipped, landed upside down and skidded 60 feet on its side with Galyon pinned beneath.

Daily Oklahoman, The
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
November 19, 1952, page 1

Nurse Is Heroine At Crash Scene

...a city nurse is credit with saving the life of an Antlers woman.

The nurse, Mrs. Mamie Vaugh of 1632 NW 2, applied first aid to Betty Jean Sexton whose jugular vein was severed in the crash.

Four other person were injured. One of them is Mrs. Juanita Galyon, 32, widow of the late Reese Galyon jr., city motorcycle officer who was killed last summer in a hit-and-run accident...

Mrs. Galyon, who lives at 318 Coe Drive in Midwest city, was driving a car going west... All of the injured were taken to Mercy hospital.

Also see Galyon, Reese Franklin Sr.