For many Americans, the word “sheriff” conjures up an image of a rugged-looking man sitting tall on horseback — gun on his hip, cowboy boots on his feet, hat on his head and badge on his chest — chasing bank robbers and cattle rustlers past saloons and through the sagebrush.

Til Taylor, sheriff of Umatilla County from 1902 until his murder in 1920, was all that and more.

In the early 20th century, Pendleton, Oregon, was the quintessential Western town, and Taylor was the quintessential Western sheriff.

He was immortalized on the pages of the East Oregonian and other newspapers of the day, and in the book “The Murder of Til Taylor: A Great Western Sheriff” by Ernest L. Crockatt. A larger-than-life bronze statue of Taylor on horseback towers over the wading pool in the Pendleton park that bears his name.

This special section has been a labor of love for us here at the East Oregonian.

I did not know the full story of Til Taylor’s life and death until I stumbled upon Crockatt’s book in an antique store in December 2019. I read it while on vacation, and was captivated.

The fact that July 25, 2020, was the 100th anniversary of his murder seemed fortuitous.

Since then, those around me at home and work have been subjected to hearing myriad details of Til Taylor’s story, and fortunately a few others were as interested as I had become. Pat Beard, Casey Beard, Commissioner George Murdock, Round-Up Director Harper Jones, Sheriff Terry Rowan and Kari Brooks of Heritage Station all caught the fever. We were planning an event at Til Taylor Park to honor him on July 25 — until COVID-19 got in the way.

But, over at the EO, reporters Kathy Aney, Alex Castle and Ben Lonergan were also intrigued at the possibilities Taylor’s story presented. With the support of Editor Andrew Cutler, a plan was laid for this special section, as well as a series of podcasts and a short video documentary. It has been a labor of love for all of us.

We are grateful for the help provided by local historians Sam Pambrun and Wayne Low, Virginia Roberts of the Round-Up Hall of Fame, Heritage Station and the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association. Also to a number of Til Taylor’s descendants, who were willing to share their family history with us. Thank you all.