101 Ranch
by Harold T. Holden
The 101 Ranch by Harold T. Holden, depicts a wiry cowhand, Bill Pickett, in front of a dude ranch known as the 101 Ranch. Pickett, who invented steer bulldogging and became a top performer in Wild West shows, worked at the 101 Ranch that was founded by Col. George Washington Miller along the Salt Fork River in the Cherokee Outlet in 1879. It was comprised of over 110,000 acres. Not only was it a working ranch, but also featured the world's greatest Wild West show from 1908-1932.
In addition to Pickett, The Millers employed many cowboys and cowgirls, including Hoot Gibson, Tommy Grimes, Neal Hart, Claude Sanders and a host of Indians, representing Cheyenne, Arapaho, Comanche, Kiowa, Shawnee, Sac & Fox, Ponca, Osage, Apache, Sioux, Cherokee and Navajo. Geronimo, of Fort Sill, was one of the major attractions. The show played in most of the major cities of the United States as well as England and the European continent.
101 Ranch was dedicated on February 6, 2001 and the commission was managed by the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund, Inc.. The painting is located outside the Oklahoma State Senate Chamber on the fourth floor of the Oklahoma State Capitol. It can be viewed daily from 8:30-5:30 when the Senate is not in session.
The Artist
Affectionately
referred to simply as “H”, Harold Holden was born in Enid, Oklahoma
to a family of avid inventors and engineers. Holden earned his degree
from the Texas Academy of Art in Houston after first attending Oklahoma State
University. He began his career in the commercial art field as the art
director of Horseman Magazine. While holding the position Holden would
begin to dabble in painting and sculpture, most often documenting the American
West. After serving in Vietnam with the Navy, Holden decided to stake
out a career as a full time artist in 1973. He received numerous commissions
from the National Cattlemen’s Association in the mid 1980s, and soon
regard for his work grew to the point that private art collectors began to
take stock of Holden’s art. In 1987, Holden was chosen to sculpt
the first of his nine to-date monuments that are currently scattered around
the state of Oklahoma. His work has since graced numerous publications,
and has even been featured as a U.S. postal stamp – 92,000,000 of which
were released in 1993. Holden’s work is included in various collections
throughout the country, including the Oklahoma Arts Council collection. He
has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oklahoma Sculpture Society as well as the Oklahoma Governor’s Art Award.