William R. Blandford

No Image of the Agent Available
Date of Birth: 
1884
Date of Death: 
May 12, 1934
Location of Death: 
Washington, DC

Circumstances of Death

During the course of an investigation, Special Agent William Roy Blandford suffered a massive heart attack on 14th Street in Washington, DC.  He was rushed to Garfield Hospital, but died soon thereafter.

Background

Agent Blandford joined the Prohibition Unit circa 1920.  He was a well known Prohibition Agent and throughout his career was reported to have been involved in many gun battles with bootleggers during the Prohibition era.  During Prohibition, Agent Blandford was the Administrator for the 4th District (Baltimore), which is similar today to a Special Agent in Charge.  Previously, he served in the U.S. Army from 1917-1919, as an infantry captain and Assistant Provost Marshal of Paris.

Personal

Agent Blandford was born in Wooster, OH.  He was survived by his wife, two sons, Donald and Lt. William Blandford, U.S. Army, and his mother, Elizabeth Blandford of Crestline, OH.  Agent Blandford received a military funeral and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Associated Artifacts: 
Image of newspaper article in The Washington Post, dated May 14, 1934, with headline: W.R. Blandford Dies Suddenly
Last Reviewed September 23, 2016