Holt Collier

Statue of an African-American cowboy being is installed in Indian Spring Park in Waco, Tx.
(AP Photo/Waco Tribune Herald, Rod Aydelotte)

[Sculptor] Summers modeled the African-American cowboy after Holt Collier, an actual cowboy and bear hunter most known for accompanying President Theodore Roosevelt on a 1902 bear hunt. - Washington Times

Borepatch put up a post yesterday about Gummi Bears, which leads to Teddy Bears, which leads to Teddy Roosevelt hunting for black bears in Mississippi, which leads to Holt Collier, Teddy's guide for that hunt.

Holt Collier was born a slave in 1846. While he was a boy he took up hunting and killed his first bear at the age of 10. With a gun. A slave with a gun! Who'd a thunk it?

Near the end of the civil war, the Confederacy decided to let negros join the army. A few did join and Holt was one of them. After the war he spent time in Texas and became a Texas Ranger.

Holt Collier Historical Marker

Heritage Post has a page about The Forgotten Legend Of Holt Collier.

Wikipedia has a page, but it's pretty weak. Not enough documentation I suspect.