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The Honorable life of the famous African-American Confederate scout, bear hunter, & sportsman Holt Collier (1848-1936), known as one of the greatest American big-game hunters of all time, met his earthly demise at the venerable age of 88 when he died from the effects of unspecified natural causes at the city of Greenville in Washington County, Mississippi on Saturday, August 1, 1936,Here is a few highlights of his life...Born into slavery, Collier became one of those Black Confederate soldiers whom we are often told did not exist, & he ended up serving under General Nathan Bedford “First with the Most” Forrest, becoming one of Forrest’s most trusted Cavalry scouts. Those who “Rode with Forrest” are generally considered to be amongst the most highly-respected of all Confederate veterans.After the war, Collier worked as a cowboy on a ranch that was owned by his former commander, General, & later Governor of Texas, Lawrence Sullivan Ross, the namesake of Sul Ross State University ainAlpine, Texas, & the savior of Texas A & M University. Having killed more than 3,000 bears during his lifetime, which is more than those taken by Davy Crockett & Daniel Boone combined, Collier became a legend in his own time, leading to his becoming a presidential hunting guide for President Theodore Roosevelt, whereupon Collier unwittingly set the stage for the famous November 1902 incident that originated Roosevelt’s namesake, the “Teddy Bear.”Roosevelt was greatly impressed with Collier’s abilities & presented him with a Winchester rifle. He served again as Roosevelt’s tracker during a Louisiana bears hunt of 1907. Holt Collier National Wildlife Refuge in Mississippi is named in his honor.The 1910 photograph, made at Vicksburg, Mississippi, depicts Holt Collier with the Winchester rifle that was presented to him by President Theodore Roosevelt.
