One of the most iconic things about cowboys is the rodeo, and you cannot talk about the sport without mentioning Bill Picket. Bill was born in December 5, 1870 in Jenks-Branch, Texas. Bill’s parents were former slaves that moved out further west with his 13 siblings and live in a ranch. Bill was always a dear devil from a young age, he master horse riding very early. So you can imagine how he perfected his craft that would later on popularize rodeo. Bill Pickett was a true American pioneer in the sport of rodeo not to be only categorize as just the first African American. He captivated millions of spectators in his long forty years spanned as entertainer. Bill travel all around the world from South Africa, South America, and Europe and all over United States, his iconic figure caught the eye of the British Royal family who performed for. Pickett invented technique called bulldogging, a skill that require grabbing the cattle by the horn and wrestling them down. But the why Pickett would do is by riding hard and springing from his horse and wrestle the steer down he would then bit the cow on its lips and then falling backwards, a stunt that had many dazzled. This type of entertainment eventually lost popularity throughout the years and transmute into steer wrestling a form wildly used in rodeo. Nevertheless, it was Picket that introduce that type of entertainment to the rodeo world. Bill Picket was a true pioneer that reinvented rodeo sport in so many ways. He was recognized for paving the way in 1993 when the U.S. Postal Service issued a stamp called "Legends of the West". Although the picture on the stamp was misconstrued and was a picture of his brother not him, the U.S. Postal Service called back all 250 million stamps issued. This alone was not just controversial, it showed the negligence U.S. Postal Service demonstrated by not paying attention to details; however, by doing that it also popularize Bill Pickett more than he was.
Modern day "BULLdogging" |
ONe of the only ORIGINAL footage left. Bill Pickett "the BULLDOGging" |
JOHNSON, CECIL. GUTS: LEGENDARY BLACK RODEO COWBOY BILL PICKETT. SUMMIT GROUP, 1994.