Bill Pickett

(ca. December 1870-March 25, 1932) The son of a former slave, Willie M. (Bill) Pickett grew up in Taylor. Working as a cowboy in central Texas, he pioneered the art of "bulldogging," in which a cowboy jumps from his horse to twist a steer's horns to force it to the ground. One of the few black cowboys on the rodeo circuit, Pickett became a sensation, performing in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, and Europe. He retired in Oklahoma in 1930 and died two years later from injuries sustained in a riding accident. In 1971 he became the first African American cowboy inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. (1991)

Bill Pickett is a historical marker in Taylor, Williamson County, dedicated in 1991. It is one of 237 historical markers documented in Williamson County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 430 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 30.5708, -97.4094 near Taylor. The nearest cataloged historic site is Tex Avery (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Eikel-Prewitt Building, Preslar-Hewitt Building, and Taylor Post Office.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5491009320. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.