Bill Pickett - Rockdale’s Father of Bulldogging

By Brandon Reynolds, Vision Historic Preservation Foundation Historical Committee Chair

Bill Pickett, renowned for inventing bulldogging, a significant rodeo event, has a connection to Rockdale, Texas, regarding this invention. Pickett was a skilled cowboy of African American and Cherokee Indian descent, born in Travis County, Texas, in 1870. He grew up in West Texas, where he became proficient in riding and roping, essential skills that later contributed to his invention of bulldogging.

The skill of bulldogging involves wrestling a running steer to the ground, a technique Pickett developed after observing bulldogs handling steers. He would grab the steer's horns, twist its head, and bite its lower lip or nose to gain control, a method he initially demonstrated at county fairs to supplement his income.

Regarding the specific location of the invention, there is a popular version of the story, especially locally in Rockdale, Texas. It is said that in 1903, Pickett, frustrated with an unruly Longhorn steer, rode alongside it, jumped from his horse onto the steer's back, and grabbed its horns, marking a defining moment in the history of bulldogging. This incident in Rockdale is seen as a pivotal moment in the sport's development.

Pickett's rodeo career began in 1888, and by the early 20th century, he had gained considerable popularity. He joined the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch and Wild West Show in 1905, where he performed for over 25 years, showcasing his skills in bulldogging and other rodeo events. Pickett performed until about 1916, working as a cowhand and rancher thereafter. He later appeared in the silent films The Bull-Dogger (1921) and The Crimson Skull (1922). Pickett eventually retired from his shows. In 1932, at the age of 61 in Ponca City, OK, Pickett passed away after a multi-day coma caused by a bronco kicking him in the head.

In 1971, Pickett became the first Black rodeo athlete voted into Oklahoma City's Rodeo Hall of Fame. Fort Worth's National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum also inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 2003, showcasing some of the apparel that made him so memorable.

In summary, while Bill Pickett's invention of bulldogging is a well-documented part of rodeo history, the specific incident in Rockdale, Texas, in 1903, where he is said to have first performed the maneuver on an unruly steer, plays a significant role in the local folklore and the history of the sport. This event in Rockdale reflects the innovative spirit and skill of Pickett, cementing his legacy as a pioneering figure in the world of rodeo.