A Tribute to Bill Slaughter

William L. Slaughter
Husband, Father, Grand Father, Sailor, Law Man, Outdoorsman

A Man of Substance

November 18, 1942 — July 22, 2011

May he Rest in Peace.

It is a privilege and an honor to have the opportunity to speak about Bill Slaughter.

I first met Bill in 1989, when we worked together on a joint narcotics task force in Jacksonville, N.C. At that time Bill was an Agent with the N. C. Bureau and I was an Agent with N.C.I.S. For the next 22 years Bill and I worked cases, chased outlaws, hunted and fished together, trained Retrievers, and became the best of friends.

Bill was a man of character with an unbending conviction to stand for what was right. His dedication to this Country, to the Law Enforcement Community, and to his family was extraordinary.

The depth of who Bill Slaughter was and what he accomplished in his life anchored around the love he had for his Wife Judy & his family, his service to this country as a Naval Officer, and his dedication to the Law Enforcement Profession as a Special Agent of the N.C. Bureau of Investigation.

Bill’s awesome appreciation and love for the great outdoors was shared with his family and many of his friends. From showing his young friend Zac how to handle and hunt with his Labrador Sam to sharing his knowledge of how to fish and hunt the Neuse River, Bill never tired. Bill’s presence in the field and on the river will be sorely missed by all who had the privilege of sharing those adventures with him.

Among Law Men in Oklahoma, there is a saying: “he will do to ride the river with”.

I am sure that most of you are not familiar with the phrase nor are you familiar with the border area between Oklahoma and Texas. The Red River runs hard separating the two states. Outlaws from the old days, such as Frank and Jessie James along with other infamous characters, like Pretty Boy Floyd and Machine Gun Kelley, used that border river as a safe haven.

To this day Oklahoma and Texas Law Men tread cautiously when “Running the River” looking for murderers, smugglers, and other assorted criminals. The highest tribute that can be bestowed on an Oklahoma Law Officer is a few simple words “he will do to ride the river with”.

Rest assured Bill Slaughter was one of those men.

Bill was my friend and I will miss him terribly. I will find some comfort in that his memory will be with me when I feel the cool breeze of fall, watch the leaves of autumn turn, and hear the crunch of frost under my feet. Whether hunting, fishing, or just enjoying God's great outdoors my thoughts will be with Bill and his spirit will be with me.

My prayers go to his wife Judy and all his family. May God bless Bill Slaughter for the man he was.