Dick Pickett grew up with a childhood surrounded by Cheyenne Frontier Days. His father brought the family to Cheyenne in 1923 and almost immediately became immersed in The "Daddy of ‘Em All.” John C. Pickett served for many years with the Indian Committee and Dick remembers the Indians coming to the family home every Thursday night for dancing and dinner. The family and the performers became so close that Dick remembers that Frank Fools Crow wanted to get married in the family home. A drum was presented to John Pickett by Chief Charlie Red Cloud.

Dick and his brother were involved themselves in CFD, riding in parades; selling parking spaces for cars near the park and even participating in the Wild Horse Race, making Dick one of the few General Chairmen who could say they competed at Cheyenne Frontier Days. In 1960 Dick returned to Cheyenne after college and joined the Parade Committee. While there he was responsible for managing the Branding Float, a job he would hold for the next 25 years without fail. In 1962 he was asked to join the Grounds Committee where he served until he was asked at
a surprise meeting to become the Indians Chairman on the General Committee in 1967. In 1969 he returned to the Grounds Committee, this time as their chairman. From 1970 to 1976 Dick served on the CFD Planning Committee and was involved in planning and construction of the Exhibition Hall and making general improvements to "B" Stand. In 1977 through 1978, Dick was one of the founding board members of the CFD Old West Museum. In recognition of his contributions, he was inducted into the HEELS in 1970.

In 1980, Dick was asked to become General Chairman for CFD. Over the next two years, he was instrumental in making significant changes to the celebration including: adopting a computerized ticket sales and accounting system for the event, establishing the interview process to select the next "Lady in Waiting;' arranging for the use of fancy dancers at the Indian Village and bringing in the Southern Plains Indians, implementing and refining the sponsorship
program for CFD, and bringing the first Committee trucks to the rodeo. He was also
responsible for launching the effort to create the Cheyenne Frontier Days Western Art Show. All this while still managing the Branding Float for the CFD parades. After only two years as Committee Chairman, Die~ Pickett stepped down and yet continued to be actively involved at Cheyenne Frontier Days for many years.

Today, Dick and his family continue to be strong supporters for Cheyenne Frontier Days. His son Brad worked with the grounds crew for 10 years and his daughter-in-law Dede is a member of the W-HEELS and is currently the group's treasurer.