Widow makes plea to find late husband's HPD badge pendant

HOUSTON – For years, ShirleyBob Carbone Gower wore her husband’s Houston police badge as a special piece of jewelry -- a way to pay homage to him.

"That was part of him with me at all times," ShirleyBob said. "He always thought it was strange that I wanted to wear his badge, but I told him it was because, 'I love you and I'm proud of you and I'm proud of what you do.'”

Bill Gower retired in 2001, after three decades on the force.

Bill died last year and, for ShirleyBob, wearing his badge became a way of keeping him with her.

“It's sacred, especially now that he’s gone. It just means so much more to me,” ShirleyBob said.

While she was still grieving, just over a week ago, she lost the badge.

She’s certain it fell out of her purse at the RodeoHouston BBQ Cookoff.

She was working as a volunteer in one of the booths.

Since then, she’s checked with the rodeo’s lost and found every day, and she posted an appeal on Facebook, but so far, there is no sign of it.

“My heart is breaking now. I lost my best friend. I lost my husband,” ShirleyBob said. "And now the badge, and that’s the closest thing I have that really means a lot to me.”