Officer Kenneth W. Pendergraft, 34, was killed on April 8, 1980, in Fort Worth, Texas, after confronting a man who was dumping garbage on his driveway at 7216 Winters. Pendergraft approached the driver and asked him not to dump the trash; the man left but returned shortly afterward and opened fire with a .44 magnum pistol, fatally wounding the officer. Before dying, Pendergraft managed to return fire and killed the shooter.

Pendergraft had served with the Fort Worth Police Department for 12 years. He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, and two brothers, both of whom also served with the department. The shooting was treated as a line-of-duty death; the suspect died at the scene and no further arrests or litigation followed.

Does anyone have memories of Officer Pendergraft, his family, or additional details about the incident or its aftermath?