William "Bill" Tilghman

by Harold T. Holden

Bill Tilghman was born at Fort Dodge, Iowa on July 4, 1856. His career spans the Wild West era, but goes well into the twentieth century. He was a frontier scout, buffalo hunter, peace officer, movie maker and state senator. He spent a total of 51 years in law enforcement and was the last of the old time sheriffs. In 1875, he became deputy sheriff in Dodge City, Kansas. Lawman and gunfighter Bat Masterson called Bill Tilghman "the greatest of us all." Bill was not a flamboyant man and was not noted for his fast draw or marksmanship; however, he was celebrated for his unwavering courage.

Tilghman came to Oklahoma during the land run of April 1889 and established his first home at Guthrie. In 1891, he was appointed a deputy United States Marshal and served continuously for 19 years, being re-appointed by every United States Marshal in Oklahoma until 1910. In 1893, he was known as one of the "Three Guardsmen" who brought law to the town of Perry, and tracked down members of the Doolin gang, including the arrest of outlaw Bill Doolin at a bath house in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

In 1900, Tilghman was elected sheriff of Lincoln County, Oklahoma, where he mastered the art of politicking through the use of the expanding newsprint media. He was later elected as a member of the Oklahoma State Senate. In 1911, he resigned from the Senate to become chief of police in Oklahoma City. In 1915, Mr. Tilghman was instrumental in bringing out a moving picture series entitled "The Passing of the Oklahoma Outlaws," scenes of which were re-enacted under his direction by many of those who were actually engaged in the original work of hunting down the outlaws. Tilghman was persuaded to come out of retirement in 1924 to clean up the town of Cromwell, Oklahoma. Early on this job, a drunk prohibition officer, Wiley Lynn, shot and killed Tilghman as he led Lynn to jail.

William "Bill" Tilghman by Harold T. Holden was dedicated on February 6, 2002. The commission was managed by the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund, Inc.

William "Bill" Tilghman by Harold T. Holden is located inside the Oklahoma State Senate lounge on the fourth floor of the Oklahoma State Capitol and 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.