Wild Bill Hickock died on this day in 1876

shot* while holding two pair - aces and eights, all black - ever since known to poker devotees as the "dead man's hand."

* He was shot in the back on this date during a poker game at the Number Ten Saloon in Deadwood, Dakota Territory (now South Dakota). Although it is hard to separate fact from fiction in his life, it appears that Hickok was born James Butler Hickok in Troy Grove, Illinois and fled to the west in 1855 as a fugitive from justice, working as a stagecoach driver, hired gun, scout, and lawman in the Kansas and Nebraska territories. Hickok fought in the Union Army during the Civil War, subsequently becoming well known as a gunfighter and professional gambler in the far west - a life style that eventually contributed to his unfortunate demise, murdered by one James McCall (later hanged for the offense), for motives that still remain obscure. At the moment of his death he was playing five-card draw.

If you're old enough, you might remember the eponymous TV show from the 50's: 

Andy Devine: "WILD ... BILL ... HICKOK!!!"
Narrator: "Starring Guy Madison as Wild Bill Hickok"
Andy Devine: "Hey, Wild Bill ... wait for me!"
Narrator: "And Andy Divine as his pal, Jingles" 

I don't remember them from that time, since I was too young to watch TV in the evening, and we had terrible reception where I grew up - 80 miles from the NYC signal.  I saw some of the episodes later, though.  Andy Devine as Jingles was definitely the most memorable character.

Speaking of Andy Devine, Pretty much the first TV I remember was Andy's Gang on Saturday mornings - plunk your magic twanger, Froggy!