Today In Black History
Bill Pickett, acclaimed rodeo innovator and actor
Issue #575 Today In Black History, Monday, April 22, 2024
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Today’s Black History WOW!
Bill Pickett was born on December 5, 1870, in Williamson County, Texas, to former slaves, and he grew up working on a ranch, where he honed his skills in wrangling and breaking horses. He was a legendary cowboy, rodeo star, and actor known for his incredible skill in steer wrestling and his contribution to cowboy culture.
Pickett left school in the fifth grade to become a ranch hand. With his four brothers, he established The Pickett Brothers Bronco Busters and Rough Riders Association.
Pickett's most famous move, the "bulldogging" technique, involved biting a steer's lip and wrestling it to the ground. This move revolutionized the sport of rodeo and made Pickett a household name in the early 1900s.
In addition to his rodeo career, Pickett also found success in the entertainment industry, appearing in films such as "The Bull-Dogger" and touring with the prestigious 101 Ranch Wild West Show.
In recognition of his contributions to cowboy culture, Pickett was inducted into the National Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1971. He is also honored with a statue at the Fort Worth Stockyards in Texas, where he is remembered as a trailblazer and a symbol of strength and resilience.
Concert promoter Lu Vason founded the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo in 1984. The touring rodeo celebrates Black cowboys.
In 1989, Pickett was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.
On August 6, 2018, Bill Pickett was inducted into the Jim Thorpe Association's Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.
Bill Pickett passed away on April 2, 1932, after going into a multi-day coma after being hit in the head by a bronco.
Today In Black History
In 1596, the first recorded slave revolt occurred in Stono, South Carolina, which was then a Spanish settlement.
In 1692, a slave named Mary Black was convicted of sorcery and jailed in Salem, Massachusetts.
In 1868, Oscar James Dunn was elected Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana.
In 1884, the United States recognized King Leopold II’s Congo Free State.
In 1919, Black inventor S.H. Love received a patent for an improved military gun.
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