Bill Pickett, born in 1870 in Jenks Branch, Texas, was the second of thirteen children in a family of African-American and Cherokee heritage. His father, Thomas Jefferson Pickett, had been enslaved, and his mother, Mary “Janie” Gilbert, helped raise their large family in a rural farming community. The family later moved to Taylor, Texas, where Pickett would begin his life as a cowboy.

Leaving school after the fifth grade, Pickett became a ranch hand and learned the ropes of cattle work. Inspired by how trained bulldogs helped subdue stray steers, he invented a technique of his own: riding hard, leaping from his horse, biting the cow’s lip, and wrestling it to the ground. This daring maneuver, later dubbed “bulldogging,” became the foundation for what is now steer wrestling in professional rodeo.

Pickett’s skill and flair earned him local fame. He and his brothers created the Pickett Brothers Bronco Busters and Rough Riders Association, performing across the American Southwest. His bulldogging act made him a standout on the Wild West circuit, leading to a major opportunity in 1905 when he joined the 101 Ranch Wild West Show. There, he shared the stage with icons like Buffalo Bill, Will Rogers, and Tom Mix, performing under the name “The Dusky Demon.”

Despite his popularity, Pickett faced racial barriers that limited his opportunities. To participate in some rodeos, he had to falsely claim Comanche heritage. Still, his fame grew, fueled by world tours and appearances in early Western films such as The Bull-Dogger and The Crimson Skull, both released in 1921.

Pickett died on April 2, 1932, after being kicked in the head by a bronco. He was buried at the 101 Ranch in Oklahoma, near a monument that honors the friendship between the Miller Brothers and Chief White Eagle of the Ponca Tribe. Today, Bill Pickett is remembered as a fearless cowboy, a rodeo innovator, and a pioneer in both performance and film.