Legacy of Black cowboy who changed rodeo forever in Texas lives on

When strolling the quaint Main Street that serves as the city hub of a quiet Texas town, turning a corner to grab a morning coffee or snag a deal at some truly thrifty antique stores reveals a short bronze statue of an unsuspecting man — rope in tow and donning a Western hat. As it turns out, it’s one of many iconic figures in Texas’ Black history in the unsuspecting town of Taylor.

William “Bill” Pickett was known as the greatest cowboy of his day and has been credited for inventing bulldogging, a rodeo and ranching method of subduing steer by twisting their horns and bringing them to the ground. Though Pickett’s method was inspired by herding dogs who bit the cattle’s upper nose and lip.

According to several historic accounts, Pickett was the second of 13 children born to former slaves on the Travis County line. Now, he’s an iconic staple in one of Texans’ favorite annual pasttimes.

“One of the few Black cowboys on the rodeo circuit, Pickett became a sensation, performing in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, and Europe,” a historic marker erected by the Texas Historical Commission in Taylor claims. “In 1971, he became the first African American cowboy inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame.”

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