A perhaps lesser-known fact about Doc Holliday is that he had a somewhat famous predecessor. Margaret Mitchell, who wrote the epic, Southern Drama “Gone with the Wind” that later became a timeless film, was his ancestor.
In fact, Margaret was a cousin to Doc Holliday although the two never met as he died thirteen years before she was born.
Holliday’s End
Holliday died in November 1887, leaving quite a legacy. His obituary read: “Few men have been better known to a certain class of sporting people, and few men of his character had more friends or stronger champions,”. Wyatt Earp held an honorable opinion of his late friend, saying, “I found him a loyal friend and good company.”
Holliday’s life has since spawned multiple books, movies, music, and TV shows as he is now considered an icon of the Old West. Due to his infamy, Holliday’s life is the perfect story to be displayed on-screen just like in the classic western, "Tombstone".
Without a Penny
When Doc Holliday passed away, he was very poor and had no money to his name. It’s quite sad considering his intellectual brilliance and former career as a doctor.
But over the course of his life, he did have some notable successes. He had previously owned a silver mine, a saloon, and of course, a dental practice.
Memorialized in Stone
At the Historic Railroad Depot in Tucson, Arizona, there is a life-size statue of Doc Holliday. The memorial sculpture was commissioned by the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum.
Created by sculptor Dan Bates, the statue is supposedly placed at the exact site where the shooting of Frank Stilwell took place.
Holli-Days
After his death, Doc Holliday became a very iconic, historical figure. Other than the film, "Tombstone", there are other ways in which his fascinating life has been memorialized.
Today, Tombstone, Arizona holds “Doc-Holli-Days” which celebrate the legendary figure on the second weekend of August each year.