Family Trees of Bootmakers

As someone who enjoys the history of bootmakers, I am always fascinated by the family tree of H.J. “Daddy Joe” Justin. Not only did his daughter, Enid, start Nocona Boots, and his sons continue Justin Boots, but some of his unrelated employees continued his work as they started their own bootmaking careers. His connections to subsequent boot companies/shops are remarkable and are current even today.

C. G. “Gus” Blucher worked at Justin Boots for 27 years, first in Spanish Fort, and later in Nocona TX, under Daddy Joe. Along side Gus was Archer LaForce, related to Daddy Joe by marriage (HJ’s wife’s mother was a LaForce from near Lipan TX). In 1915, Gus and Archer decided to start out on their own and move to Cheyenne Wyoming to start Blucher Boots. After a few cold winters, Gus and Archer moved to Olathe Kansas, to continue the shop in a warmer climate with a larger available workforce. Archer later went to Tucson AZ, and formed Western Boot Company. Blucher died in 1932.

Jay Griffith worked at Western Boot Company before WWII. Paul Bond bought Western Boot Company several decades ago (1950s?). Jay wound up working for Blucher Boots in the early 1980s, hiring James “Smitty” Smith, who now owns Blucher Boots. Jay also hired Ray Dorwart and Lisa Sorrell, each having their present bootshops.

Enid Justin, who worked with her father “Daddy Joe” until she married Julius Stelzer in 1915, started Nocona Boots in 1925 when the Justin brothers decided to leave Nocona for a larger town. Enid and Julius, who also worked along side “Daddy Joe” ran Nocona Boots until their divorce in 1934.

Julius moved to nearby Henrietta TX, and along with a local bootmaker, Carl Olsen, and started Olsen-Stelzer Boot Company in 1934.

Enid remarried a Robert Whitman in 1940. Robert was not in the boot business, but Enid had him work around the Nocona Boots factory. They divorced in 1945, and with the little bootmaking that Robert picked up at Nocona, and along with businessmen, started the Whitbern Boot Company in Wichita Falls TX. That shop closed after a few years.


There is probably more to this convoluted story that I will find in the future.

Tex Robin, My Friend and Great Bootmaker

Tex Robin made these boots for me. He also entered them in the Boots and Saddlemaker's Round Up Boot Contest that is held every year in Wichita Falls, TX. They placed tied for Master's Class, which is very rare and most of the time is a popularity contest based on the amount of students one bootmaker may have. That's another issue.....

Back to Tex. He doesn't have a song about him, he doesn't have a video, and he doesn't have have a lot of famous people knocking on his door.

He doesn't need it.

He is just as good as any bootmaker alive or dead. There never has been anyone better.

Yes, I may be biased because we are friends, but look at these boots and name me a better bootmaker.

Thanks Tex.

More Proof That The World Is Going to Hell......

ROY ROGERS-DALE EVANS MUSEUM IS CLOSING, BUT THE LEGACY WILL CONTINUE Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum Closing Its Doors In December; Live Shows with Roy Rogers Jr. and the High Riders with Dustin Roy Rogers To Continue

BRANSON, MISSOURI. October 5, 2009 - After six seasons in Branson, the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum announced today that it will close its doors in December. The Rogers family wants to thank Roy and Dale's fans for the many wonderful years that the Museum has enjoyed since its opening in California in 1967. However, declining attendance and an uncertain economy have caused the family to make the extremely difficult decision to close the Museum doors. And as Roy Rogers himself told Roy Jr., "If the Museum starts costing you money, then liquidate everything and move on."

Says Roy Rogers Jr., "The artifacts in the Museum are from Roy and Dale's lifetime together, but even when these artifacts are gone, our memories of Roy and Dale will live on forever. Nothing can ever take those away. We encourage everyone to visit theMuseum during the next few months and re-live the great memories that Roy and Dale gave them and celebrate their lives." As for the live shows that currently are performed at the Museum, Roy Rogers Jr. also announced today that his company, Golden Stallion, which owns and produces the shows, will be looking for a new location in the Branson area. "Next season, we hope to see you at our new location, where Roy and Dale's legacy will continue through our live shows." Rogers continues, "We have developed a great love for Branson and the theatre community here, and look forward to many more years as a part of it."The legacy and spirit of Roy and Dale live on through Roy Rogers Jr. and the rest of the family, in whom they instilled their deep family values. Roy Rogers Jr. and his band will continue the legacy that Roy and Dale started as they continue to perform the cowboy music that they loved so well. Details about the new venue for Roy Rogers Jr. and his band, with Dustin Roy Rogers,will be released in the near future.