Grave marker for William “Brushy Bill” Henry Roberts AKA Billy the Kid. According to local legend that is the marker for the real Billy the Kid. Nearby Hico, Texas has made a big deal out of the Billy the Kid Legend. I’m not really convinced Brushy Bill was the real Billy the Kid but my mom does remember running into him on the square (downtown) in Hamilton when she was a child. Roberts delighted in telling stories of being Billy the Kid.
Grave marker for William Henry "Brushy Bill" Roberts in the Oakwood Cemetery, Hamilton, Texas.
Billy the Kid Statue in downtown Hico, Texas.
Life size cutout of Brushy Bill attached to the bank building in Hico across the street from the Billy the Kid statue.
Thank you visiting Hamilton County Texas. — Dee
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Isn’t it funny how outlaws and bushrangers become folk heros over time. Every town or hamlet that can make the connection no matter how remotely wants to join in with the notoriety of the character mainly for the tourist trade.
Happy New Year!
Great pictures. Always enjoyed reading about the outlaws like Billy the Kid and Jessie James. Would have hated running into either of them though.
What a neat look at a famous person from history. Every little boy in the USA has heard of Billy the Kid. This was a neat psot.
Arija: Yes it is. The person from Hico who started publicizing the Billy the Kid link admits he did it just to increase tourism.
Kathy: It is interesting to hear stories of them.
Fishing Guy: TY
Great post and pictures.
Thanks for sharing your part of the world with us!
Take care
I had no idea – how interesting that your mother actually met this person!
The statue is great, interesting post.
Sara & Jennifer: TY
Wren: From what my mom said it wasn’t a pleasant experience running into Brushy Bill.
Being trapped by Oran L. Roberts aka Brushy Bill aka Billy the Kid was not a pleasant experience for a lady or a child!
He was a colorful character with endless stories.
Hey my grandpa sculpted that statue of Billy the Kid in Hico!
James Rice? Is your mom Maria?
I was a police officer in Hico until 2005. The local kids painted poka-dot boxers on the statue about 2 years before i left. It was kinda funny at the time. Though I tried I never found out who had perpatraited the crime.
That is amusing. On the bronze or the one by the bank.
That’s bronze paint, he still has the poka-dots on under the paint as far as i know. They were red with white dots.
whether or not brushy bill Robert’s was or wasn’t billy the kid i think he proved enough that the court should have given William h bonney his pardon that was promised to the kid so long ago,yes i believe that the state owes it to the people that when they say they are going to pardon someone they should stand by there word.
From a few of the comments I’ve seen here, Brushy Bill Roberts was considered as somewhat of a local joke by the long time citizens of Hico. If anyone has any stories they know of about ole Brushy Bill, then feel free to contact me or post them here. — K. Steven Monk