Bass Reeves

1838-1910

Reeves was known for his ability to kill a man from a distance of up to a quarter a mile away using his preferred .44 Winchester Rifle. The first African-american lawman, Reeves worked under the infamous ‘hanging judge’, Isaac Parker. During his 32-year career, he killed 14 men, among them the infamous criminal Bob Dozier. Outlaw Tom Story foolishly attempted to beat Reeves to the draw, and was shot dead. In 1907, at the age of 69, he became patrolman for Muskogee City Police Department, purportedly never having a crime committed on his beat. Three years later, he would pass away from Bright’s disease.

Reeves was so relentless in his pursuit of the law that he even hunted and arrested his own son