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.

The Future of Custom Bootmaking

I have been worried over the future of custom bootmaking for the last few years. It seems that the tradition of custom bootmaking being passed down from father to son, or family to family is slowly ending. Now a days it seems that if someone is interested in being a bootmaker, he or she takes a 2-3 week course , opens up a shop, and puts out their sign and starts taking orders. "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" That sounds all fine and dandy, until their first few customers are just experiements. Don't get me wrong, I am all for the American Dream of being your own boss.

There is no apprenticeship program, or not much of one, in the USA.

I have sympathy for the people who graduate from these 2-3 week classes, or the Green County Bootmaking School in Okmulgee for not having someone who will "season" them to the trade of bootmaking. But right now, I don't know of any bootmakers who can afford a novice to come in for this seasoning. It costs to have a novice work for you in the industry, not just in pay or benefits, but materials and screw-ups.

What is the answer, well I don't have one. How about you?

I learned the terrible, sad news last night that my favorite author - western novelist Elmer Kelton, passed away Saturday morning. I've read all of his books, some twice. I meet him several years ago when they put in the Texas Trail of Fame in the Fort Worth Stockyards. There will never be another one like him.

Joe Bowman Passes Away

While doing some Googling on bootmakers I came across the recent obituary for Joe Bowman.

I recalled several boots in the late Tyler Beard's second book, "The Art of the Boot" that were made by Bowman and DeGeorge. One pair of boots was on the cover. That was about all the info that I had for Mr. Bowman. This article indicates that he made boots while in high school in Houston TX at Roy Smith Boots, and Palace Boot Shop. He was drafted after graduation during WWII, came back and started the Bowman and DeGeorge Boot Shop in Houston. He also made saddles and carved holsters. He made boots for Roy Rogers, and probably other movie stars.

He quit the business, and developed another talent, western shooting. He was well known for that, got to meet several western stars like John Wayne, James Drury, and many more. He traveled many places performing shooting exhibititions.

A lover of all things western, a gifted bootmaker and leather craftsman, and a military hero, he leaves a great legacy.

Thanks Joe.

How Many??????

"I am often asked, “How many pairs of boots do I have?” To be honest, I don’t know. I have two categories, and a few subcategories.

I have boots that I had made for me. Some of these have been made by who I consider fine bootmakers. Some were made in small shops, some in an “assembly line” of makers. Some of these boots are made to my measurements, some are stock sized boots.

Some boots that I have were bought on Ebay. Some of these boots I can wear, if I chose. I have boots made by Willie Lusk, Ray Jones, Shorty Golden, Olsen Stelzer and Stewart Romero that I have worn at one time but not any more. Once you tear a boot-pull from a Willie Lusk boot, or gouge the vamp of a Stewart Romero boot, you can’t get a new pair.

I also have boots that I bought on Ebay that I could not wear even if I wanted to. But I bought them because I wanted a pair from that particular bootmaker. These boots include boots made by Henry Leopold, L. White, and Charlie Garrison.

I tell people that I have 200 +/- pairs, that is close. Most are in my boot room, a couple dozen in my closet. I probably have bought 400 pairs in 15 or so years.

I’ll make a tally someday soon.