Houston McCoy

Houston Roy McCoy is an Austin, Texas police officer who killed sniper Charles Whitman at the University of Texas at Austin on August 1, 1966.
A native of Menard, Texas, he attended Menard High School where he was active in sports and named "Class Favorite" and "Best All Around Boy".
He graduated in 1958 and joined the Austin Police Department in May 1963. While on the force, he obtained his commercial flight instructor license and volunteered his time to the Boy Scouts of America.
After the event
On August 5, 1966, McCoy appeared before the Travis County Grand Jury and received a justifiable homicide verdict for the death of Whitman.
Two years after the event, McCoy left the police force and was employed as a civilian flight instructor under the T-41 program with the United States Air Force in Del Rio, Texas. In January 1975, he became the Camp Ranger for the Boy Scouts at Camp Sol Mayer near Fort McKavett State Historic Site, serving as Camp Ranger until 1987. In April 2000, the State of Texas granted a Worker's Compensation Award and in May 2000 the City of Austin sued McCoy to deny the award.
Awards
*On August 9, 2007 Houston McCoy, along with 13 other recipients, received the Distinguished Service Award from the City of Austin for their role in the tragedy of August 1, 1966.
*On May 7, 2009, Houston McCoy and other first responders involved in the UT Tower incident were awarded Honorary Membership of the Austin Police Association.

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