Billy Ray Pettit (1947–2006) was an American sculptor, best known for his

bronze Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper, commonly with about 12–12.5% tin and often with the addition of other metals (including aluminium, manganese, nickel, or zinc) and sometimes non-metals, such as phosphorus, or metalloids such ...

sculptures, which feature the rugged

mountain men A mountain man is an explorer who lives in the wilderness. Mountain men were most common in the North American Rocky Mountains from about 1810 through to the 1880s (with a peak population in the early 1840s). They were instrumental in opening up ...

of the American West. His style was realistic, and much of his work portrayed aspects of pioneer life, the joys of the

Rocky Mountain Rendezvous The Rocky Mountain Rendezvous was an annual rendezvous, held between 1825 to 1840 at various locations, organized by a fur trading company at which trappers and mountain men sold their furs and hides and replenished their supplies. The fur compan ...

, and American Indian themes. During his lifetime, Pettit created about seventeen bronze sculptures, with the most famous being "Old Bill" Williams. The eight-foot monument stands as a sentinel in the town of

Williams, Arizona Williams ( yuf-x-hav, Wii Gvʼul) is a city in Coconino County, Arizona, United States, located west of Flagstaff. Its population was 3,023 at the 2010 census. It lies on the routes of Historic Route 66 and Interstate 40. It is also the souther ...

, the "gateway to the

Grand Canyon The Grand Canyon (, yuf-x-yav, Wi:kaʼi:la, , Southern Paiute language: Paxa’uipi, ) is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in Arizona, United States. The Grand Canyon is long, up to wide and attains a depth of over a m ...

." The statue has become an icon of historic

Route 66 U.S. Route 66 or U.S. Highway 66 (US 66 or Route 66) was one of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System. It was established on November 11, 1926, with road signs erected the following year. The h ...

. Pettit experienced fame when Senator

Barry Goldwater Barry Morris Goldwater (January 2, 1909 – May 29, 1998) was an American politician and United States Air Force officer who was a five-term U.S. Senator from Arizona (1953–1965, 1969–1987) and the Republican Party nominee for presiden ...

unveiled the monument on April 26, 1980. The Bill Williams Mountain Men presented a 16-inch version of the sculpture to newly inaugurated President

Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...

in January 1981, who kept it in the Oval Office.

Early life and education

Pettit was the son of a building contractor, Ben Pettit, and his wife, who moved their family from

Waldron, Arkansas Waldron is a city in Scott County, Arkansas, United States. Its population was 3,386 at the 2020 census. The city is the county seat of Scott County. History Waldron was platted in 1845 by surveyor W. P. Waldron, and named for him. A post offic ...

in 1953. As a boy living in the rugged mountains and pine forests of Williams, B.R. Pettit learned to love the lifestyle and history of mountain men. He studied art in college at

Northern Arizona University Northern Arizona University (NAU) is a public research university based in Flagstaff, Arizona. It was founded in 1899 as the final public university established in the Arizona Territory, 13 years before Arizona was admitted as the 48th state. ...

. He worked closely on sculpture with Dr. Winthrop Williams there as the university is known for its large bronze

foundries A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Metals are cast into shapes by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal into a mold, and removing the mold material after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metals pr ...

for casting such work. Pettit taught art for a short time as he worked on his Master's Degree.

"Ole Bill" Williams

Pettit completed an 8-foot sculpture of "Old Bill" Williams for his master's thesis; he donated his time and the materials were paid for by the city and local organizations, which had commissioned it for the Bill Williams Monument Park in

. The monument was unveiled near

by US Senator

in 1980, the first year of what is now the annual event of Rendezvous Days. "Old Santa Fe Trail: The Story of a Great Highway, Bill Williams, Mountain Man"
, Mountain Man Bronzes Pettit later said in a 1995 newspaper interview: "I'd always wanted to build a statue of William Sherley Williams, to help honor the famous trapper and mountain man who this city is named after." The sculptor continued using his detailed historical knowledge to create portraits of the mountain men's struggles and joys. Altogether he made about 17 bronze sculptures, several of the mountain men. In January 1981, the Bill Williams Mountain Men, dressed in full garb, carried a sixteen-inch, bronze version of ''Ole Bill Williams'' to Washington DC. The group presented the sculpture to the new president,

at his inaugural celebrations. Pettit's piece was a favorite of President Reagan, as he displayed it prominently in the

Oval Office The Oval Office is the formal working space of the President of the United States. Part of the Executive Office of the President of the United States, it is located in the West Wing of the White House, in Washington, D.C. The oval-shaped room ...

during his terms. Afterward, he took the sculpture with him to California, where it was displayed in the Reagan living quarters. That bronze is now held in the collection of the

Reagan Library The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library is the repository of presidential records from the administration of Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States, and the burial place of the president and first lady, Nancy Reagan. It is the la ...

.Ronald Reagan Foundation and Presidential Library, reference number 1985.00359.01 Pettit died at age 59 in 2006 in Williams from

Addison's disease Addison's disease, also known as primary adrenal insufficiency, is a rare long-term endocrine disorder characterized by inadequate production of the steroid hormones cortisol and aldosterone by the two outer layers of the cells of the adrenal ...

References

* ''Williams- Grand Canyon News,'' Vol 89, March 15, 1979, page 11. * ''Williams- Grand Canyon News,'' Vol 91, April 24, 1980, page B5- B8. {{DEFAULTSORT:Pettit, B. R. 2006 deaths People from Scott County, Arkansas 1947 births People from Williams, Arizona 20th-century American sculptors American male sculptors 20th-century American male artists