Burnet County, TX - Newspapers: Wils Norred

April 22, 1999



Submitted by: gdwatkins@mail.utexas.edu (Gerald D. Watkins)

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 Wils NORRED - Burnet Bulletin Article July 13, 1939 

  

The Burnet Bulletin - Thursday, July 13, 1939

Town He Served as its First Mayor to Honor Wils Norred



The town of Killdeer, North Dakota, will celebrate its 25th anniversary from 

July 1 to 4 and it has requested the presence at the celebration of its first 

Mayor, Wils Norred of Cheyenne, it was learned here yesterday.



Norred, U.S. Marshall, was a pioneer rancher in North Dakota, and managed a nember 

of outfits in the Killdeer district. When the town was incorporated 25 years ago 

he was elected its first Mayor and served for two years, when he moved away.



The Killdeer newspaper will print Norred's picture in its anniversary edition, 

recounting besides the fact that he was the first mayor, that he also served in 

other civic capacities and assisted in the first organization of the city. 

The invitation to Norred was accompanied by the key of the city and said: 

"you helped to build this country-come and see it now."



Norred said, however, that he believed he would be unable to attend the celebration, 

which would include an old-timers reunion and Rodeo--

Killdeer (North Dakota) News



Wils Norred was a Burnet county boy, born in the Hairston Creek community, and will

be remembered by many of our old-timers. However, he left this country, headed for 

the northwest when a nineteen-year old boy, with a herd of cattle. He was accompanied 

by other Burnet County boys.



Wils, when leaving, rode to the top of a hill near his birthplace. He turned in his 

saddle and looking back said: "It may be many days before I see this home in the 

valley again," and indeed it was. Twenty-six long years had passed before he returned 

to the home of his nativity for a short stay.



The early part of his life was spent as a cowboy and rancher, but in later years he 

retired from this kind of work. He served as Under Sheriff for eight years in Casper, 

Wyoming and has been a United States Marshall for the past five years. But Wils says 

he is tired of politics and intends going back to his horse and saddle. He has been 

very successful as a U.S. Marshall in capturing and handleing federal prisoners in 

the Northwest.