Bill Pickett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill Pickett
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Pickett c. 1907
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| Born |
Willie M. Pickett
December 5, 1870 Jenks Branch, Texas, U.S.
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| Died | April 2, 1932 (aged 61) Ponca City, Oklahoma, U.S.
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| Resting place | White Eagle Monument, Marland, Oklahoma |
| Other names | "The Dusky Demon" |
| Occupation | Rodeo performer |
| Spouse(s) |
Maggie Turner
(m. 1890) |
| Children | 9 |
Willie M. Pickett (born December 5, 1870 – died April 2, 1932) was a famous African American cowboy, rodeo performer, and actor. He is known for inventing the rodeo sport of bulldogging, which is now called steer wrestling. In 1972, Bill Pickett became the first African American man to be included in the National Rodeo Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1989.
Contents
Early Life and Cowboy Beginnings
Family and Heritage
Bill Pickett was born in 1870 in a community called Jenks Branch in Williamson County, Texas. He was one of 13 children. His father, Thomas Jefferson Pickett, had been enslaved. His mother was Mary "Janie" Gilbert. The family had both African-American and Cherokee ancestry. By 1888, his family had moved to Taylor, Texas.
In 1890, Bill married Maggie Turner. They had nine children together.
Becoming a Ranch Hand
Bill left school after the fifth grade to work as a ranch hand. He quickly learned to ride horses. He also spent time watching the Texas Longhorn steers in his home state of Texas.
The Birth of Bulldogging
Pickett's Unique Technique
Bill Pickett created a new technique for catching cattle. This skill is called bulldogging. It involves grabbing a steer by its horns and wrestling it to the ground. Cowboys knew that trained bulldogs could help catch stray steers. Bill Pickett saw this and wondered if he could do it too.
He practiced his stunt by riding fast on his horse. Then he would leap from his horse. He would grab the steer and wrestle it to the ground. This method eventually changed over time. It became the steer wrestling that is a popular rodeo event today.
A Star is Born
Pickett soon became famous for his amazing tricks and stunts. He performed at local country fairs. With his four brothers, he started "The Pickett Brothers Bronco Busters and Rough Riders Association." Bill Pickett's name became well-known in the world of rodeos. He traveled across Texas, Arizona, Wyoming, and Oklahoma with his bulldogging act.
A Wild West Show Legend
Touring the World
In 1905, Bill Pickett joined the famous 101 Ranch Wild West Show. He performed alongside stars like Buffalo Bill, Will Rogers, and Tom Mix. He was known by the nickname "The Dusky Demon." Bill Pickett became a very popular performer. He toured around the world. He even appeared in some of the earliest motion pictures.
Challenges and Triumphs
Because of his African American heritage, Bill sometimes faced challenges performing. To be allowed to compete, he occasionally said he was of Comanche heritage. In 1921, he appeared in the films The Bull-Dogger and The Crimson Skull.
His Final Years
After retiring from Wild West shows, Bill Pickett was involved in an accident. In 1932, a bronco kicked him in the head. He fell into a coma and passed away on April 2, 1932. He was buried on the 101 Ranch. His resting place is near a monument to the friendship between Ponca Tribal Chief White Eagle and the Miller Brothers. This monument is located near Marland, Oklahoma.
Bill Pickett's Enduring Legacy
Honored in Rodeo History
Bill Pickett's contributions to rodeo are still celebrated today. In 1972, he was inducted into the National Rodeo Hall of Fame. This is part of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. In 1989, he was also honored by the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.
Statues, Stamps, and Streets
Concert promoter Lu Vason started the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo in 1984. This rodeo celebrates Black cowboys and their history. In 1987, a statue of Bill Pickett was placed in Fort Worth, Texas. It shows him performing his famous bulldogging move. Another statue of Bill Pickett was unveiled in his hometown of Taylor, Texas, on June 2, 2017. It stands proudly in downtown Taylor.
The United States Postal Service honored Bill Pickett in 1993. They included him in their "Legends of the West" stamp collection. There was a small mix-up at first. The image used was actually his brother, Ben Pickett. The Postal Service corrected this in 1994. They released new stamps with the correct image. In March 2015, a street in Taylor, Texas, was renamed to honor Bill Pickett.
Other Recognitions
On August 6, 2018, Bill Pickett was inducted into the Jim Thorpe Association's Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame. In 2021, a hill in Burnet County, Texas was named after him. A trail in Georgetown, Texas also has an interpretive sign honoring Bill Pickett.
Honors
- 1972 Rodeo Hall of Fame of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum
- 1989 ProRodeo Hall of Fame
- 1997 Texas Trail of Fame
- 2003 National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum and Hall of Fame
See also
- Bose Ikard
- Isom Dart
- Nat Love
