On Dec. 5, Black rodeo cowboy Bill Pickett was born in the Jenks-Branch community in Williamson County (now Leander). After observing dogs subduing huge steers by biting their upper lips, the young Pickett found he could do the same thing. In 1888 he performed at the first fair in Taylor, his family's new hometown. As the "Dusky Deamon," Pickett performed at rodeos and fairs throughout Texas and the West. Capitalizing on his fame, by 1907 he was working as a cowboy and performer with the 101 Ranch Wild West Show in Oklahoma. He entertained millions in the United States, Canada, Mexico, South America and England, and was featured in several motion pictures, the first black cowboy star. Pickett died in 1932 after being kicked in the head by a horse. In 1972 Pickett became the first Black honoree in the National Rodeo Hall of Fame.