Taylor in Williamson County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Bill Pickett
(ca. December 1870 - March 25, 1932)
Photographed by Keith Peterson, June 28, 2007
1. Bill Pickett Marker
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 steers 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.
Erected 1991 by Texas Historical Commission and the Woodson-Dickey History Club. (Marker Number 9320.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1930.
Location. 30° 34.262′ N, 97° 24.574′ W. Marker is in Taylor, Texas, in Williamson County. It is on North Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 N Main St, Taylor TX 76574, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Texas and in the Austin Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: City of Taylor (a few steps from this marker); Tex Avery (a few steps from this marker); Preslar-Hewitt Building (within shouting distance
this page online
Also see . . . Bill Pickett at Wikipedia. (Submitted on June 4, 2023.)
Photographed by Frederick Bothwell, April 20, 2021
2. Bill Pickett Marker
The marker is on the west side of Heritage Square, visible from the sidewalk.
Photographed by Michael Stroud, circa November 1, 1998
3. “The First Bulldogger, Bill Picket”
This 10 foot high 1986 bronze by Lisa Perry is in North Forth Worth, Texas. It depicts Bill Picket wrestling a steer to the ground. The inscription reads “The first bulldogger, W. M. Bill Picket (1870–1932) originated the rodeo event of bulldogging, known today as steer wrestling....”
Photographed by Frederick Bothwell, May 14, 2018
4. Heritage Square, Taylor TX, in 2018
In May 2018 the Bill Pickett historical marker in Heritage Square was removed and stored off-site while a major redesign of the square was implemented.
5. Bill Pickett Postage Stamp, ca. 1994
the revised stamp that replaced the initial recalled stamp on which Bill Pickett's brother Ben was illustrated.
Click for more information.
Click for more information.
From the Collection of the United States Postal Service
6. The original, incorrect stamp
Photographed by Frederick Bothwell
7. Bill Pickett Statue in Taylor, Texas
A privately funded statue of Bill Pickett is installed on private property on the northwest corner of Second Avenue and North Main St.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 10, 2007, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. This page has been viewed 6,502 times since then and 140 times this year. Last updated on November 23, 2008, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on September 10, 2007, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. 2. submitted on April 20, 2021, by Frederick Bothwell of Georgetown, Texas. 3. submitted on December 20, 2007, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 4. submitted on May 15, 2018, by Frederick Bothwell of Georgetown, Texas. 5. submitted on May 29, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 6. submitted on May 29, 2009. 7. submitted on May 16, 2018, by Frederick Bothwell of Georgetown, Texas. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
