Sit a spell

And I'll tell you the tale

Of the great "Buffalo Bill".

Strong as a horse

And grizzly as a bear

Was the man who knew no chill.

Born on the rocks of Boston, Massachusetts, this quick-talking, fast-shooting Irish marshall came in the second of five of the Cody brood on January 30, 1956, called William Brian Cody by his ma, Jayne, and his pa, Frank. He started off real quiet, keeping his lips tight until the age of three, when he opened his maw and ne'er closed it again for 63 years.

Bill's dad Frank drilled it into his noggin' time and time again how important it was to honor your past and the folks who came before ya. Cody blood is as green as the rolling hills of Dublin, and Buffalo Bill fiercely embraced his Irish heritage. He proudly sported the color green, hung Celtic crosses, and recited the Irish Serenity Prayer:

"God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

The Courage to change the things I can,

And the Wisdom to know the difference."

In 1959, them Codys set out south from The Bay State to settle in the wild, untamed country of Miami, Florida. There he caused quite a ruckus, hootin' and hollerin' and drivin' his school marms into a tizzy. But the Irish firebrand eventually settled and met his lady love, Irish lass Colleen Patricia Cusic, in the spring of 1976.

Four years of courtin' it took to convince lovely Colleen to accept the grizzled bear of a man to be hers, but wed they did in 1980. Buffalo Bill felt a calling further North, and his wife walked beside him up to the tip of that Sunshine State, the hills of Tallahassee. There they sprung three youngins: Dawn Desiree, William Brian, Jr., and Everett Joy, roly-poly, rough and tumble all. But the call came again, and the clan of Irish cowpokes made one last move, down to the banks of the Suwannee River where they would permanently call home in Live Oak. There, Buffalo Bill and Colleen had their last little bronco-buster, Barbara Lauren.

As a dad, none could beat Bill for lovin' and adorin' his four little cowpokes. He snuck them out of the schoolhouse for days of fun, taught them how to shoot and ride like proper cowboys, what it meant to be Irish, and most importantly, how to be real quality folks. Buffalo often kept a few greenbacks in his wallet to give to the down-on-their-luck. When others asked him why he just gave it away, them drifters would just use it for no good, he'd shrug his shoulders. "It's not my money anymore," he'd say. "I did my part."

Buffalo Bill had a quick brain and an even quicker tongue, making friends with anyone who heard his boomin' chatter. He got his fancy degrees from Florida State University and Florida A&M University, and after years of schooling others decided it ain't for him. Ol' Buffalo made his own way, buildin' a business that helped disabled folks to live their lives and get where they needed to get. Them judges was mighty impressed, declaring Bill an expert and one of the best in the land.

Buffalo Bill made his closest pals by drawing fast with the Cowboy Fast Draw Association. Them buckaroos would spend days competin' to see who was the fastest draw, spinning a good yarn with Bill and slapping knees. He wasn't the fastest, but he was an accurate shot, never missed that target. And boy howdy, was it a great day when ol' Buffalo Bill won that shiny trophy as the 12th fastest in the world in the Fastest Gun Alive competition! He and Colleen kept that award real shiny for every visitor to their pretty little homestead in the Florida woods.

Buffalo Bill Cody left us here on Earth for that great range in the sky on June 13, 2022, brawlin' with cancer 'til the end. He left us many gifts, stories, and lessons that live on in his wife, Colleen; his four youngins, Dawn Kirkland, Brian Cody, Everett Cody, and Barbara Pierce; his grandkids, Jacob Roach, Taylor Roach, Cody Kirkland, Sam Kirkland, Lillie Kirkland, Dhruv Cody, Tommy Pierce, Charlie Kirkland, Saanjh Cody, and Ben Pierce; his siblings, Kathy Cody-Guastella, Steve Cody, Kelley Cody-Grimm, and Sharon Rentz; as well as a mess of nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

If you feel like honorin' Buffalo Bill Cody, consider sending some donations to that there Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in his name.

And so this is the end

Of the real-life legend

Of the incredible Buffalo Bill.

But do not shed a tear

'Cause he's always right near

Every time you fire your gun.

Happy Trails, Buffalo Bill.