Story

“There’s this tale about a man named Pecos Bill who was a cowboy in Texas who fell out of a wagon and was raised by coyotes. He was real tough and would rope tornados with rattlesnakes. Some people say he created the Rio Grande, but I can’t remember how they say he did it.” 

Context

My informant is from Texas and heard this tale from his dad who grew up on a ranch in rural Texas. He claims his dad would often compare things to Pecos Bill by saying something like, “You are tougher than Pecos Bill.” 

Final Thoughts

This tale seems to reflect a lot of local hobbies and values. The association of Texas culture with bull riding, lassos, tornados, and acting tough allows this tale to be relevant in this state. As my informant mentioned, his father would often allude to Pecos Bill in everyday speech. He likely would not have been able to do this outside of Texas, as his audience likely would not be familiar with this tale.