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Into The Archives: The 145-Year-Old Story of Justin Boot Company
77 Plays3 months ago
Join us for a special episode with Nancie Thomas from Justin's Archives Department. Nancie explores our rich history, from H.J. Justin’s trip from Indiana to Texas in 1879 to his legacy in western cowboy boots.
Hear stories of boot repair in a barber shop, the innovative self-measuring boot size chart, the move to Fort Worth in 1918, the creation of the iconic Roper boot, and John Justin Jr.’s impactful leadership.
Don’t miss this deep dive into the archives, where Nancie brings history to life with tales of cowboy culture, legendary customers, and the enduring spirit of Justin Boots. Tune in for a captivating look at how one man’s dream and a family’s dedication created an enduring American icon.
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Transcript
Introduction of Guest and Host's Gratitude
00:00:00
Speaker
They loved this city so much and they were thankful for the support they had gotten from Fort Worth and they were thankful for the support they'd gotten from the individuals who ordered boots and they were happy to make those boots and I feel like they just wanted to give back. You guys, we have a returner to the podcast. I want to give you a huge resume of who Nancy is. But before we do that, I don't know if you remember our Christmas episode from last season. If you don't remember it, check it out because it was so fun. Miss Nancy taught us how to wrap a Christmas present and she's back on the podcast.
Nancy's Journey in Customer Service and Archives
00:00:36
Speaker
Nancy, thank you for being here today. Thank you.
00:00:39
Speaker
Nancy is ah over our archive department and she has a story to tell and I thought what better way to celebrate our 145 years than to get Nancy on to talk about the history of Justin. You guys are in for a treat because this lady knows her stuff. She started out in customer service here at Justin 30 years Nancy. 30 years. okay 30 years ago and she's lived to tell the tells in terms of lots of callers called in with the craziest stories the coolest stories the best questions i mean you guys out there listening you understand our brand probably more than we do at times and you're able to help shift which direction we go and
00:01:18
Speaker
So as Nancy's here, we get to talk about a little bit of our past, um a blast of from the past, as you will, as we kind of walk through the past 145 years of Justin. And I've got to say, I'm kind of getting chills in this moment, Nancy, talking about this and talking to you about this, because this has been a long time coming. And the history of the company in itself is much larger than myself. It's much larger than you. It's much larger larger than most of the people, everyone here. And so I just am so appreciative that you took the time to um tell us a little bit about Justin. So without further ado, I wanna get started with this interview. I wanna start with you first though. if If you've listened to the podcast for a while, you know that I'm really interested in the background of our guests and how they got got here. So Nancy, think back 30 years ago, what was Justin like? What was it like working in customer service? And then my next question past that is would you have ever thought you would have ended up in the archives?
00:02:13
Speaker
No, I did not think that at all. ah When I came to work here, it was um very, very busy. It was before we had such an easy way to create our own orders. We wrote the orders up, we sent them to order entry to be entered for us, but the phone was ringing constantly. We never had a chance to put the phone down, especially at Christmas. It was so busy and I loved being busy. It was very different and it was a lot to learn. for me. I bet it was. And even kind of thinking about that time, even now customer service gets to email back and forth, but email wasn't a thing. no You had to quite literally talk to every single person. Did that ever get exhausting? Did that ever did you ever have days when you're just like, I'm having
Justin Family's Legacy and Boot-Making History
00:02:58
Speaker
a bad day? Because you really can't have a bad day in customer service, you know?
00:03:01
Speaker
No, you really can't. You have to be a friend to everybody. And you do become friends with everybody. I've become friends with so many people over the years. The retailers that would call to order Boots, after talking to them for so long, they become a part of your family and is certainly a good friend. They really do and I'm so glad you brought that up because we have kind of two departments of customer service and most companies do so I i feel like that's no secret. There's the consumer facing side and then there's also the B2B side where you're speaking directly to the sales reps, you're speaking directly to the retailers and that's how our business is ran. And um I love the family aspect of it because over your 30 years not only have you become a family member of Justin and all the employees here but you've actually gotten that real life experience and gotten gotten to see
00:03:48
Speaker
the cool stories and we actually stay tuned for the end of this video we're going to talk about some of the funny things that Nancy's heard over the years she just teased one before we got started and boy let me tell you there are some crazies out there you guys are some of them but that's okay we still love you anyway um and we're going to kind of jump right on into the history of Justin because the Justin family their whole family had a passion for boots. And they actually, it wasn't just about the boots, it was about the story behind the boots, the passion for making the boots, and then also the passion for giving back to their communities. And um so let's kind of take a step back 145 years ago before either one of us were born. Tell us about how it all began with H.J. Justin. What do we need to know about H.J. Justin?
00:04:33
Speaker
He was 20 years old and lived in Lafayette, Indiana. His father was a cigar maker. He saw no use for rolling cigars. he had't blame um He wanted to leave, he wanted to break away from them. There was a lot of children and I think he felt like also from Mr. Justin Jr. has said that there were so many children He was old enough to get out on his own and make his own way and give room for the other children to grow and to be fed, actually. So he got a train and made it to Gainesville, Texas in 1879. He was 20 years old in just a few months. When he got off the train in Gainesville, he acquired a job working for two sisters who had inherited a shoe shop repair from their father, who had was had been passed away.
00:05:22
Speaker
So he worked there about two years ah but as an apprentice, learning how to repair the boots. And he kind of got itchy. He just felt like that wasn't what he wanted to do forever. He'd heard about Spanish Fort, which was not far from there. It was bustling little town of a population of 200. It had four saloons and five doctors. So he decided he would go to Spanish Fort and try his luck there. ah There was a wagon train in Gainesville to pick up a load of whiskey to take to the um saloons in Spanish Fort. So we walked up to the driver and said, I'd like to get a ride to Gainesville, Texas. And the man said, I am going to Gainesville, Texas. How much money do you have?
00:06:08
Speaker
And he said, I have $5.25, which in 1879 was probably like $20 to $40. So maybe. Maybe. OK. So the the driver said, OK, your fare is $50. I'm sorry, $5. so So he had 25 cents left over. He had 25 cents, a hammer and an awl in his pocket when he boarded that wagon train. But he made it to Spanish Fort and um was tired and thirsty and hungry and dirty. He walked into the first place he saw, which was a barber shop.
00:06:43
Speaker
He wanted to get a bath, but you could get a bath there. ah At that time, you get a bath and get a haircut and get a shave. So he told the barber he was looking to work for someone to pay for a haircut, a bath, and a shave. So the barber said, well, sweep my floors. And john ah her, Joe Justin, actually ah swept the floors and became quite apt at it. and did a lot of work that first day so he was hired full time to sweep the floors and do odd jobs around the barbershop.
00:07:19
Speaker
And I think it's really interesting, Nancy. He started with, let's say, $5.25. He paid the $5. He's now got $0.25, not enough to get a bath and a shave and ah a haircut. So he swept floors. And then I would imagine he kind of built some kind of relationship with this man that gave him money. So I think eventually he had to have a loan of some sort. but he um But as the Cowboys came in for a haircut and a shave, he noticed how ragged their boots were. So he offered to repair the boots, patch them up. ah So he started patching boots. It was another income for him. He patched the boots and then
00:07:59
Speaker
he still didn't want to patch boots all his life. So he said he just had to have some money. He wanted to borrow some money ah to buy some skins and i can buy a fine pair of boots. So the barber said he had $35 to his name, but he could have that to buy skins. So he took the money and started making the boots immediately. The first pair went to the barbershop owner, Mr. Frank C. It cost nine dollars a pair. He sold the rest of them to some of the other shop owners around there. um And that began as a boot making. One day he said a hired hand from one of the shop owners came in and he said I want a pair of boots exactly like Mr. Morris's.
00:08:44
Speaker
I want them high with red tops and good work in them. So Mr. Justin said the hands feet were as long as his arm and as round as a ham. Which is so hard to believe. I can't help but laugh when I read that. Yeah. and So someone said, well, how are you going to turn that leather? You work in a two by two lean two and he's going to take them outside and cut the leather and work on them out there when it's not writing. So the, the former man was very happy with his pair of boots also.
00:09:16
Speaker
That is so wild to me and it's kind of some foreshadowing that I'm sure he didn't even plan because I know that he just used the resources that he had, but being the red color yeah and then translating that to today's Justin Red, yes the iconic Justin Red that everyone sees. I think that's something cool to note too because um it was probably just based on what he had, right? but then Okay, so I remember you saying a story about he eventually needed more leathers. He needed more money for more leathers. And so he borrowed $35. He borrowed $35. From Mr. C, right? see The barbershop owner. Correct. And that was for more leathers? Yes, it was for leather, for scans to make the boots.
00:09:55
Speaker
Well, so he made several pair there in in Spanish Fort and became quite popular. The cowboys from the saloon where they always heard the gossip was they'd come into the barber shop and say, ask for that that boy that does odd jobs and claims to be a good cobbler. So that's how he he really actually started cobbling the boots, repairing them, patching them, and then cutting out the leather and making them by hand. Everything was by hand. Wow. And something to note there is um he kind of was self-taught. He had to figure it out. I mean, going from being a having a cigar maker as a father to going out on his own and figuring it out. I can't help but imagine. I don't know if you've ever stopped to think about what that would have been like if he had to throw away a few pairs of boots because they didn't work or just getting the shape and stuff. That would be
Evolution of Justin Boots from Necessity to Fashion
00:10:48
Speaker
incredibly hard. so And years ago, um he was the first one, of course, too
00:10:53
Speaker
have stitching um on the shaft of the boot, the upper part, because after a while the boots would just kind of sag down and wrinkle. But he started making stitches in the shaft so it would hold him up more. which is so unique, the creator of all of that. They were made with very heavy leather also. It was a tanning process and it was very heavy leather. And it would protect their legs as they rode through the brambles and the bushes and the water and things like that. Oh, that's right. And got through all kinds of, I mean, wars, all of it. And they were, correct me if I'm wrong, they were a little bit taller talked than probably even today. Yes, another reason to protect their legs.
00:11:33
Speaker
Yeah, that that's so crazy to think that we've evolved from a true need to now you have fashion boots, you have western boots, you have work boots, you have all the things, but um it all derived from he saw a need yes and he had a talent and he made it happen. Yes, he did. And that's kind of a cool, overcomer story, I think, of like, he could have gone the different route for that time and worked in like the coal mining places, or he could have made rought one wrong decision and ended up entertaining in bars or something, which is, you know, there's that's neither here nor there, but everything had to work out exactly the way that it did. yeah So that we would be sitting here today. true Isn't that wild to think about? It is very wild.
00:12:15
Speaker
And even in the beginning, um I know here in a little bit, we'll get to talk about his love life and how he created his family and and how that moves on. But before we do that, I've got to have one more follow up, which is going from not knowing to having a plan to then eventually getting his own shop. were there any Have you heard anything about how what he had to do did like in terms of building his own shop with without Lean 2? Have you heard anything else about the details of the physical process of not only being able to make boots but getting established as a business owner too?
00:12:54
Speaker
Well, once he started making the boots, he moved to a little bit larger place. I think it was like an eight by five building, something like that. And he had room for a basket to hold his leather and things like that. So he was really thought he was doing quite well at that time. And he said, I have everything here but a sign. So he got a piece of board and somehow engraved with a knife, I'm sure, H.J. Justin boots and hung his first sign. I do have a replica of that in the archive department. You do, and it's a um it's a good talking piece whenever guests come in to the archives to talk about it because we're Justin today, but we were H.J. Justin Booth Company then. And then Justin and Sons. Yeah, and then we'll get to the sun part where it was H.J. and Justin and Sons. And I think let's just go ahead and dive into their in there, Nancy, because um
00:13:44
Speaker
Rumor was, or story goes, Annie was a doctor's daughter okay and in a Spanish fort. And she was known as a spitfire. The one story I've heard and read from the book about Justin is she had bought herself a new hat and wanted to church on Sunday. During the next week she saw a lady of the night walking down the sidewalk or they didn't have that walks back them walking down the street and Had on the same hat and that did not sit well with Annie so she walked over and proceeded to take the hat off her head Which caused a fight between the ladies Annie was fined
00:14:33
Speaker
for starting a ruckus on the street and had to pay $5, but she always said that was well worth the money for me. I love that. And that's, wow, I have so many things to talk about there because she kind of set the tone for the Justin women. yeah They um did not take no for an answer. They paved the way. They were innovators in their lanes, whatever they did. And we get to talk about that in a little bit, but I think that's cool. Right off the bat, HJ found someone, a woman that was able to hold her own, especially in those times, you know, would that would take care of herself and then also support him so well.
00:15:05
Speaker
And then something else jumps out at me, the $5 that she got fined $5, he paid $5. It's just like, I like to say sometimes now it feels like every time you go to the store, something's $5, but back then $5 was a lot of money. money back then which is so crazy to think about. Well, she had caught his eye at a square dance. And so he really liked her. He thought she was very pretty. So they married, I believe in 1887 and she was a great help to him. Wow, and speaking of that being a ah great help, she started working with him to patent, not well not patent, but create a fit charter? A fit charter. Okay. She um would work long nights with Mr. Justin, cutting the leather, turning it, trying to get it stitched together. But the cowboys would come in from the trail and stop and order a pair of boots. But they'd have to complete that trail ride and they couldn't pick them up until they're next way through.
00:16:03
Speaker
So, she devised a fit chart, which they could mail to their customers. And at that time, even in the early 1900s, they could mail order. They could order their boots by mail, and they could mail them to them, which I thought was Pretty cool for that time. It's very cool, especially considering my dad not that long ago, and and he feels like it was just yesterday, but it was even longer. um He talks about Justin being able, you could mail in your order custom boots to an extent. yes And um so I think that's really cool that they these two were the innovators of it all. they They really set the bar high for the cowboy boot industry, um which I respect and love so much. And then that's interesting too. We've got to stop and talk about that because
00:16:49
Speaker
The time that it would take to complete not only a cattle drive, but then the chance to be able to come back through Spanish fort. What is the time frame there? Do you think it would be months? I don't think it was months. Okay. Yeah, I don't think it was just a couple of weeks. That was a long trail. And then to be able to have the boots made and ready to go, that that's so crazy to me because yeah, today we can rush a pair of custom boots and make it happen in a smaller amount of time. But if you want that good quality, you do have to wait a little bit. And so I think that's cool that not only did he not have the technology back then, but he was just able to start doing it and then the boots would be ready.
00:17:25
Speaker
um I think that's something that we don't stop and think about a lot, and but he really did make their lives easier. you know He became a part of something that helped their daily lives improve. That's what he said one time. He said that they all that little town catered to the cowboys. That was their their work in the saddle, and they catered to the cowboys, but there was nothing heavy or protective for their feet and their legs. so wow It was one of his thoughts when he started making the boots. He met the need. Yeah. Yeah. And that's cool. I can't help but think of any old Western movie and just picture that what, that's what Spanish Fort was like. You know, there's a lot of old, good cowboy movies, so especially with John Wayne. You know, I just picture, I picture that. So it's cool to go back in time, but you know me, I'm a girl, I'm a hopeless romantic. I can't help but continue to talk about Annie and and talk about how everything that she did.
00:18:15
Speaker
And correct me if I'm wrong, you said that they were married in, um what is it, 1887?
Justin's Business Innovations and Family Contributions
00:18:20
Speaker
Okay, was that in Spanish Fort or was that in Nocona? Okay, so let's talk about getting to Nocona then because okay a lot of us, have been a lot of people out there have been following Justin since it was in Nocona. They have that tie to Nocona, Texas. So talk about that. How did the family get there? They got to Nocona because they'd always been talking about the railroad going through Spanish Fort, but I believe it was 1889, they changed the route. They decided to put it going through Nocona instead of Spanish Fort.
00:18:51
Speaker
And Mr. Justin realized he had to have accessible shipping. So they packed up. By this time they had their first son, which was John Sullivan. So in 1889, they did move to Nocona. They had six more children. They had quite a large family. So seven total? Seven total children. Wow. I'm one of seven. So it's always a happy family when you have siblings to be your friend. That's true, so yeah, you're never lonely. That's true, you're never lonely. sometimes It's fun, but sometimes it's nice to be kind of awake and ah have your your quiet time. Which is probably exactly why the kids were so involved in the boot baking process. They got their escape.
00:19:34
Speaker
yeah Well, yes, and they'd go to school all day, but they would go to their dad's shop and work after school, and they every one of them could build boots from the ground up. why They were all interested in that. They loved making the boots. They all had a job. That's kind of unique to me, too, because nowadays in 2024, everyone talks about homesteading and kind of going back to the roots and teaching your kids different trades. And tre even going to trade school is becoming more of a trend. And so I think that's cool that they were already, they were kind of getting a double education that would help set them up for the future. And then who knows if they decided to continue the boot making process, they could, or they could be like Joe and not want to make cigars anymore and move on to something else. You know, that's true. They had the choice to do that. I think that's really cool. The brothers, um, did help in that, that business. They all worked together and, and they each, um, what I've heard, they each,
00:20:31
Speaker
traded jobs and served in each capacity so they would know what was going on with the business and not be kind of lost in one area. o That's interesting with it with a family business, yes that way the left hand knows what the right hand's doing. Yeah, there's a lot to learn there too. So what was it, 1908? 1908 became Justin and Sons. H.J. Justin and Sons Good Company. And there's also a sign of that because he had to replace his sign with just a H.J. Justin. um And then you have even a picture of a replica of what the store looked, I say store, what the building looked like. Yes. um Did the sons, were the sons involved in any of that building or ah giving it a facelift?
00:21:15
Speaker
No, no, but I'm gonna move to Nakona If I can remember the book exactly they first lived in a two-room house Wow, and of seven kids. Well, I think the kids came gradually. Okay, not all at one time surely but um They built on slowly. They had built a room here and a room there. It became a very large house after a while. Wow. And in reading the book, I remember also there was a he made ah maybe the smaller house at one time a playroom or a playhouse for all the people and they had parties there. They were very social and in the city are or in the town. they They loved being social. They had parties all the time.
00:22:01
Speaker
Wow. And that's even, that's really cool to think about because I've heard stories of John and Jane, you know, getting ahead, moving to the future a little bit, John and Jane being entertainers and hosting. And that's just cool. It says a lot about the Justin family. i think I just put the two, two and two, I learned that from you right now, but just put two and two together about that. So, um, that's really cool. And okay. So talking more about, about the sons, just really quick, did they all find their special niche? Did they, did they find, I know you said that they, um, You know, got to try ah every switch jobs, but did, was there one, do you remember anything about one of the sons was specifically better at stitching or pegging or? I never heard that one was better than the other. I heard that they all did everything and and there's pictures in archives also of
00:22:48
Speaker
of all of them standing and just cutting and slowly but surely they would get machinery to help them but it was still so old-fashioned looking to us now yeah and I was going how did they ever learn all that and keep up with all of it? for real and be a part of the innovation along the way. that' That's so mind boggling to me. Well, Nancy, we're gonna take a quick break, but when we come back, you guys, we're gonna talk about how Justin Boots moved from Nocona, Texas to Fort Worth, Texas and everything in between. So stay tuned, we'll be right back. ok Hi ladies, summer is here and if you're anything like me, you're looking for the perfect summer dress, something that will keep you cool and stylish and also look cute too. So whether you're gearing up for your backyard barbecue, your beach vacation, maybe even a few what weddings you have this summer, Justin Boots has you covered with their stunning collection of dresses. And that's right, I said dresses that have a sheer sleeve that the wind blows right through and keeps you nice and breezy so you can look your best when you're going to these events where you're definitely going to sweat.
00:23:53
Speaker
And as a special offer for being a Kick Your Boots Up listener, we'd like to offer you 15% off your next purchase. Just use code KYBU15 at checkout. That's code KYBU15. Hi everybody, and thanks for listening. You know it's about to get even better. We're going to move on to how Justin and sons, we can't leave that part out. got to Fort Worth from Nakona, Texas.
Rise to Prominence and Celebrity Connections
00:24:15
Speaker
But one thing I want to touch on before we move on to Fort Worth, because we were just talking during break, um Justin became, by this point in time, 19, what was it, 20s-ish, we'll say, kind of started to become a household name. Everyone was starting to send word about it. People like Tommy Nicks were starting to get boots made. So tell us about Tommy Nicks and his partnership with Justin. Tom Nicks was a sound film star.
00:24:42
Speaker
that we made boots for. And he was so busy, he would just send telegrams to Mr. Justin and say, make me two pair of boots, make me one pair of boots, make me, you know, and Mr. Justin would make them as he had expressed how he wanted to be made and then ship them to him. He also made boots for um Charlie w Russell, who was a famous painter, and started painting the same year Mr. Justin started the boot company in 1879. So I have a picture over there in archives of Charlie, supposedly.
00:25:16
Speaker
supposed to be helping with cattle but he was sitting on a hill with paper and pencil and the the word was they didn't get much work out of him because it was always sketching but he and Mr. Justin became very good friends over the years and we do have some catalog covers from way back in the 1920s that were a replica of some of the paintings that Charlie Russell did I'm so glad you brought up the catalogs, because that wasn't something that I was initially planning on talking to you about, Nancy. But um personally, in marketing, we are constantly looking for new ideas on how to shape the brand. And every single one of us, not just in marketing, it's in product development, in sales, in customer service, find ourselves going back to, we say back to the archives, but back to those catalogs. We look at the boots, boots like these, you know, that were made. what what I'm gonna look to cheat a little bit.
00:26:12
Speaker
This was in 1900? 1900. In Spanish Fort. In Spanish Fort, Texas. Wow. And if you notice the pegs, there's wooden pegs on the bottom. Oh, yes. They made boots with wooden pegs and people really prefer the wooden pegs because when it rains or the streets are wet, they don't fall out like the nails would. They squeal and they stay in the boots better. But that was made in 1900 in Spanish Fort. Wow. And even these pull straps, um, you know, this is a cool. Wow. This is really cool. Made eight by H.J. Justin in Spanish, Fort Texas prior to 1900.
00:26:54
Speaker
wow that's so cool but the pull tabs the pull straps here are even a different material and this was innovative cough they recall for their time very very neat so sorry to derail the interview just a little bit but i couldn't help but think about all the history and that that because of the archives department we were able to document it all yes we were able to keep ah good which you are so organized and everyone appreciates that. And then we'll talk a little bit about Eddie Kelly, the woman before you that preserved the history of the archives, but it's so organized and um yeah, the catalogs are really, really, really cool. Maybe we can do an episode sometime about the different john the different um eras of the catalogs or something. Maybe we have some beautiful catalogs. Yeah, I know. And the boots inside too, just how everything's changed. so
00:27:39
Speaker
Sorry, derail. I hope you're okay with that. Okay, but so we've learned about um Justin in Nacona, Texas. We're caught up up until now. And even big names have started reaching out to Justin. Their silent films in the 1920s were so big. I i love old films. um And so it's so true. So it's cool to have Tom Nicks. That's awesome. Okay.
Move to Fort Worth and Business Expansion
00:28:01
Speaker
How did Justin get from Nacona, Texas to Fort Worth where it is today? Well, Fort Worth had heard of Justin Boot Company, and they were a booming town, and they were trying to think of a way to get Justin to move to Fort Worth. So there were men sitting quite a while, um and Mr. Justin decided that, well, um
00:28:22
Speaker
Oh, I'm sorry, really quick. Is this still Joe? Justin? Yes. Okay. ah They decided to move to Fort Worth. It was a much larger population, and the shipping was much better. So they moved to Fort Worth at that time in 1924. Wow. 1924. Okay. So we've kind of covered silent films. It's the roaring twenties now. Perfect time to move to Fort Worth to a bigger booming town with more shipping options. I mean, if that was a true concern of his, the railroad is huge was and still is in Fort Worth.
00:28:58
Speaker
So talk to us about the early years then, because now there's, in Fort Worth, depending on who you ask, there's generations of Justins that have kind of ran the town here. We even had a mayor of Fort Worth that we'll get into, but talk about the early, I don't know, when they first moved here, anything noteworthy there in Fort Worth? Well, I think that, of course, you know, I was happy to have them here and love the Justin Boots, but Mr. Justin Jr. who was at the helm when I came to work here. ah Wow. Had gone to work with his dad since he was five years old. And he always said, I want to run this company as a little child. ah So ah all the family was working here in Fort Worth, as in the Spanish Fort in Nocona, on making the boots.
00:29:46
Speaker
And that's so crazy because a five-year-old saying, I want to run a company, either that's kind of fun and cute, but it's really, really, I'm sure it meant a lot to H.J. that he genuinely wanted to do that and live on the legacy and and keep the company going because in all honesty, let's be honest, had all the sons decided not to be involved, the company probably would have ended there. It probably would have just yeah done what it could and it ended in Fort Worth and everyone saddled up and went home, you know? um So that's really cool. Also in Fort Worth, the third son, Samuel Avis, gave square dance lessons in this building, this and this building in this area, as a matter of fact. but Talk about foreshadowing. On weekends, they would have square dances and he would call and everybody loved to come. Wow, and okay, so since you talked about the building, we've got to talk about this building.
00:30:39
Speaker
We work here now, and sometimes we're like, oh, this building has character, but we don't really know what that character is. We've heard the stories. So maybe tell our audience the stories. This used to be a boot factory. They used to make boots here. Yes, it did. When I came to work here, we were all in this building. I was upstairs in the far back corner.
00:31:03
Speaker
the building I'm in now across the street was the sewing room. I've never seen so many sewing machines and so much whirring and business going on, which is always constantly busy. Mr. Justin went over there and checked the next year and he was running properly. And I've heard stories about by this time, Justin Jr. was at the helm, okay but um he would come downstairs and check a rack of boots and he was really quite demanding on as far as making good boots. The thing he wanted his name on had to be good. So if he thought they weren't made well, he would have them redo the boots.
00:31:40
Speaker
which is so good and so funny. it It kind of does showcase that he was like, nope, but if we're going to do this, we're going to do it one way the right way. And um I think that's really cool because that's still kind of how I feel like an El Paso, Texas and our factory there too. It's it's very much like right yeah it does not pass unless it's done right the first time and stuff. So that's really cool. And kind of talking about this building too, I think it's really cool for everyone out there to know something that I get chills almost every day when we talk about it or think about it. um John Justin Junior's office is still right there. It's still preserved. And um if those walls could talk, I'm sure they'd have some stories because it's like that wood paneling, which by this point was probably the 90s when he was here because there was one other building in Fort Worth, right?
00:32:27
Speaker
it was on Lake Street that was the first year or two they were here in Fort Worth and then they acquired this building which is much larger and they were had more accommodation here. Do you know the numbers of like whenever they because they first moved to Fort Worth humble beginnings they got to get started in Fort Worth? Do you know how many people they hired once they moved to this building, once they expanded? I'm really not sure about the number of people, but in the in the very beginning it wasn't a lot like it is today or when I came to work here.
00:32:58
Speaker
Wow, yeah, that's cool too. And I'm sorry, i'm really I'm really excited about this, so I skipped the bucket a little bit. I got ahead. Talk about the 50s because, so we went from the rowing 20s, everything there, they moved to Fort Worth, they've settled in well. 1954, the Justins invented the Roper. Correct. Talk about that. Okay, by that time, John Justin Jr., who always said he wanted to run this company, but was never asked to run the company, started making western bills and had his own company caught, and it became Justin Leather Goods.
00:33:35
Speaker
ah so Is that when they made purses? They made purses in the 1920s, but when John Justice started making the belts, they combined the belts and the the purses and and all the other goods we had, wallets and, you know, all kinds of things that we had for for accessories. Wow. Which is cool because we have that today. Oh yes. So that's full circle. Yes. The purses is a funny story about this. The purses actually had a lifetime warranty and they were each shipped with a small mirror and a comb. And the purses were very small but all hand-dyed and all hand-tooled. The designs were hand-tooled. But
00:34:17
Speaker
They had a lifetime warranty. And when I was in customer service, I'd get calls saying, well, your boots have a lifetime warranty. And I would try to tell, no, we don't have a lifetime warranty. If the boots are defective, we will replace them for something of equal value. But they don't have a lifetime warranty. And when I got to searching, the handbags had a lifetime warranty. I would get calls from people saying I found a handbag in my mother or my grandmother's closet or the attic or the basement and the strap has come loose or the catch is broken and I would have to find someone that could repair that for them.
00:34:52
Speaker
Oh, well, because we weren't doing it at that time. That time. That's correct. Wow. so But then Mr. Justin Jr. joined the Navy and had his belt company. But when he joined the Navy, his mother ran the company for him while he was away. And the uncles realized that he was such a smart young man and had done well in his business. When he came back, he was finally asked to take the Hummer Justin Boot Company, which is a job he'd ordered since he was a child. Which is so funny about timing, right? That was in 1950. And in 1954, he did design the Roper, which became very, very popular. ah He designed the Roper because at that time, the bull ropers and the cow ropers were allowed to wear ball caps and tennis shoes in the rodeo because the caps didn't get in the way of the rope and the tennis shoes allowed them to get off the horse very quickly.
00:35:51
Speaker
but they decided then that if they competed, they had to dress with Western attire. So they came to Mr. Justin and said, we can't do our job well in these high-heeled boots. So he thought and thought and thought, how can I make a boot that would accommodate them? And going back to the old times, they made shoes during the war to help because a lot of boots weren't silly because, I mean, we're fighting the war, and so they started making shoes. And when my sister Justin jr. Took him he was going to throw away this shoot last the glass the shoe glass and His dad said don't ever throw anything away. You're going to use that one day so he kept making several attempts to make a boot that would accommodate the the bulldoggers and the bull ropers and and
00:36:39
Speaker
and remember the shoe last. So I went to the this basement and pulled the last out and made it on the shoe last and then just raised the upper or the shaft to 11 inches. And that worked fine for them to do their job in. They were very pleased with that. But not only that, the Ropers became so popular and he introduced many, many colors, so many colors in Ropers. They were so such great sellers and everybody loved them. ah And speaking of returning boots, when I was in first came to archives, a lady that was a schoolteacher was very involved in FFA with her children. And when she passed away, her children sent her 25 pair collection of ropers to our archive department.
00:37:24
Speaker
and those are the ones that we've seen we've we've used them for a few events but we're very close we're very cautious of using them that was the rainbow colors there's all kinds of colors all colors all colors we had oh some shades of blue shades of yellow shades of green that is amazing that someone could have that many colors and that they've kept him so long and preserve them for so you know so well and i think too i want to come back to the the need of the roper first of all that's genius and very innovative and ahead of the time and then to be able to introduce so many colors through the 60s through the 70s when
00:38:00
Speaker
and even going into the 80s when the colors were vibrant and everyone was just fun and that was like so, like such a good moment. But um the round toe specifically, to going back to the need of the Roper, the round toe specifically did make it easier for the calf Ropers to get out of their stirrups. And it's so it was such a need and so used and so beneficial then that even today, the Ropers still use the Roper boot. And I think that's worth noting too, because I was trying to do the math. I don't know if you saw my face while you were talking, but 70 years of the Roper and it's still one of our best sellers and it was iconic for its time and innovative and set the tone but then 70 years later can still hold its own alongside all the new fashion and all the new Western and work and stuff so I think that's really cool to note as well.
00:38:48
Speaker
Wow. And I actually hadn't picked up on that story where um Joe Justin, Mr. Justin had said, don't get rid of anything. I i really respect that. and And that is so cool. I think a lot of business owners out there are going to resonate with that story of like in your humble beginnings, don't waste. Don't um because one man's trash right now could be another man's treasure down the line. So I think that's really cool. Personally, I'm like, Wow, so cool. um Okay, so now that we've gone through the 50s and the Ropers, talk to us about the 60s, 70s, all the way up to the 90s. Tell us a little bit about that time period, because now fort worth now Justin in Fort Worth is booming.
00:39:31
Speaker
um John Justin was the mayor of Fort Worth eventually, but i I might be getting ahead of myself. Tell me about that.
Community Impact and Civic Contributions
00:39:38
Speaker
All about that. ah Mr. Justin came, ah of course, to the him of the boot company and was very involved in um everything surrounding our city. He rode in every brand entry in the rodeo from 1950 until he became ill in the late 90s. He ah was served as City Councilman and then he served as the Mayor also and was very very did a lot of work for that, worked hard. There were some problems I think with the streets and the water.
00:40:09
Speaker
ah the water getting done correctly for all the streets and then flooding the streets. But he was very, very smart and very helpful with all that during the time. He was felt well-liked by City Council um and very well-liked as a mayor in Fort Worth. you can tell just because I was writing a story about Jane Justin, his wife you later on, not that long ago. And the the more research I did, the more articles I read about their family, they were so loved and well-respected and everyone looked to them for entertaining and for um helping out in times of need that necessarily either the funds weren't there or whatever it was. They were just willing to give back. And I think that's a huge part of
00:40:53
Speaker
them being so well and doing so well in Fort Worth, because while it was a booming city and while they were meeting their needs for shipping and all of the things that checked the boxes, they were very human about it. That's true. And during that time, ah the cowboy boot crisis was formed. Mr. Justin, I have heard that John and Jane Justin would take an injured cowboy into their home and care for him until he was ready to go back on the road into the rodeo circuit. ah She would cook for them. She was a great cook. She has a cookbook. She does. That was out. Yes. Jane Justin's prescription for hunger. Yes. I think is what it's called. Check it out, guys. It's on Amazon.
00:41:37
Speaker
ah But they did that. ah And the city, as I did see one quote that he would be not only remembered by the wonderful boots he made, but by his care and concern for the Cowboys. And that goes on to the Justin Calby Crisis Fund, the Justin Sports Medicine team with Walt Garrison and that involvement. um And of course we've had an episode of Tom Feller who I feel like that's those are his passions Oh, yes, and he tells the story so well, but you being from the archives and getting to hear these stories firsthand What's that like for you hearing all the impacts he's made and everything that he's done creating those two organizations? um increases your pride to work for a company and that is so well known and has always been there not only for their family, their employees, but their customers. Yes. To all of it, even now in 2024, there's so much pride. And and that's cool because, um yeah, Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, everyone's familiar with it. A lot of people come from all around the United States, even Canada, to compete there, to attend the rodeo, whatever it is.
00:42:42
Speaker
And um to you and I, the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo might just be the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. It's entertaining, it's fun. But to the Justin family, at one point in time, that was their their time to shine, per se, um with in terms of hosting and the hospitality. I mean, talk about the hospitality tent. There was a story there, right, where that's kind of how the hospitality tent even got started at Fort Worth. Yeah, I think they put up a tent and in, on their property possible i sort of and had a huge party and that set the trend. I mean they were always always inviting people over and having people ah entertain people. They loved it and of course everybody loved the Justins and loved to be invited.
00:43:28
Speaker
Oh definitely and that kind of makes you feel the the pride that you mentioned earlier about just working for the company. As a consumer um I was a big fan of Justin just knowing that too how involved they were and even though though the employees here that have lived here all their life and they are very strong in Fort Worth they also have that same pride of like This is a Fort Worth company, a Fort Worth family, you know and so I think that's really cool too. But then even, ah we mentioned how spicy Annie was. So we've got to cover Jane just a little bit. Jane was um a legend in her own and and I just researched and you just helped me research and read and learn about um everything that Jane did here in Fort Worth. But I've got to read off a list of things because
00:44:10
Speaker
ja While Jane was very supportive of the boot company, she um just, I mean, supported yeah John Justin Jr. with everything. She also had a few things of her own though too. She had um the Jane Justin School yes and the at TCU they actually got um the Jane and John Justin Hall hall of Fame built for them. ah There's like on the field or something. um They have involvement with the John Justin wing at Cook's children's right. did I say that right yeah Okay, and then um there's something here about the Fort Worth me of Fort Worth Museum in science Oh, sorry, Fort Worth Museum of science and history. Yes involvement there in the Omni theater science education There's so many others. And so what do you think for you? What do you think their reasoning was for?
00:45:00
Speaker
giving all their time and money and energy to the community, because they didn't have to. They could be a normal business owner. A lot of people don't. And I feel like that. They loved this city so much and they were thankful for the support they had gotten from Fort Worth and they were thankful for the support they'd gotten from the individuals who ordered boots and they were happy to make those boots and I feel like they just wanted to give back as much as they could. They were very generous people. They were very nice people to work for. um
00:45:31
Speaker
Jane was very active. I give her credit. She was a she was a quieter woman than Annie, very reserved in in some aspects. But she was a beautiful woman and a very kind person. And you've gotten to, I feel like, know her more than anyone just because of her collection of clothing and boots that sit in your archives. yes Tell us about those. I have a few outfits of she that was made for her. um They were made for her by Taylor that actually made clothing on sets for the westerns that I watched in my childhood, Roy Rogers and Jean Archery. Yes! And people like that. He would drag his wagon behind his convertible
00:46:18
Speaker
ah big long-wing convertible and make clothing on on the set and he made her some clothing that she wore also to different like the the national rodeo finals and things like that and I do have some of those suits in archives you do and the boots too oh yes for collection of boots I wish you guys could see this if you're ever in Fort Worth and you do want to come see him let us know because I mean, just her her closet, you you almost get a taste of who she was just based on seeing her outfits on the rack and seeing her boots displayed. You start to kind of paint this picture of, okay, that would have been a lady I would have liked to know and hang out with. oh definitely the pete i I remember specifically there's some pink boots, there's some like lacy looking boots. There are some lacy, this is over,
00:47:02
Speaker
an overthrow, I think, of the boots. They would have the leather then have a topping on that. um and She had leopard skin boots. She had beautiful, beautiful boots. they made She had a sister here also. They made a lot of boots for her. I have a lot of boots in archives that I wish I had room to show everything.
Archives' Role in Preserving Justin's History
00:47:21
Speaker
No, maybe we need to do that. Stay tuned because there might be an an archive video in the near future of just everything that's there um because it's so cool. like Like I said, we always tend to go back there and mentally go back there too of like, okay, what was it like in this time? And I know product development, the team now, they continually go to the archives to talk about stitch patterns. And that's how our rainbow stitching on our vintage boots with our vintage collection boots was created. They found it from the archives. And you get to live. I say live there because it's like we're there all the time. You get to live there every day. You get to work there every day um in the archives. And so. I want to get to know more of your stories and hear from you. So we're going to take a quick break, Nancy. But when we return, you guys, we're going to get to know all about Nancy's experience and archives, the stories, the fun things she's heard over the years. And um I think we're going to get to learn a little bit more about the personality of Justin as a whole. So stay tuned. We'll be right back. I can't believe it. I was just talking to my niece the other day who's going to be in fourth grade this year. That's also not believable. And she reminded me that school is starting soon. And that kind of got me thinking about my time shopping for back to school. And there were so many good memories wrapped around that with, you know, buying the new shoes, the new backpack, lunchbox, whatever it was. And I just remember the stores being so crazy. So this year, save time, save money, beat the crowd. Go to JustinBoots dot.com and use code KYBU15 to receive 15% off your next back to school purchase. That's code KYBU15.
00:48:52
Speaker
Hey, thanks for listening guys. If you've liked what you heard so far, don't forget to like and subscribe and share this with your friends. I hope you learned something, um but now we're going to dig a little bit deeper. We're going to talk about present day and get to know Nancy a little bit
Celebrity Partnerships and Brand Visibility
00:49:06
Speaker
more too. So to kind of set you up about present day. We now have been fortunate ah enough to work with people with the likes of George Strait, Reba McIntyre, Jenna Paulette, Dusty Tuckness, Cody Webster. I mean, big names in rodeo, big names in country music, kind of starting with the 90s on. Tell me about your experience there and Justin's history in that. Do you remember the George Strait partnership or the Reba McIntyre partnership coming? Well, George Strait was happening when I was in customer service.
00:49:38
Speaker
youll Excuse me, so I do remember that I know our 125th anniversary The night before the rodeo started they had the whole arena or the whole Coliseum and nothing but Justin employees could go and Justin employees were also trick riding and um bull riding and calf roping and And the best thing, though, was George Strait came down from the ceiling saying happy birthday. That is so cool. He and his son also performed in the rodeo. so
00:50:17
Speaker
That is awesome. Yeah, I think Bubba and George are both avid team ropers. They used to have the George Strait team roping. Nancy, that is awesome. And what a cool night. I mean, I've heard, um we've had Tom and Darla both on the podcast before. I've heard them talk about their time and what it was like. And they've even off camera talked about the 125th anniversary with the big old cake and all of that at Fort Worth. Stock Show and Rodeo. um That's so, so cool. And even Reba, do you remember when Reba first? I i do. I was in archives by that time. Okay. Cause it was, I want to say like 2015? 10? I'm thinking. It was later than the 90s.
Eddie Kelly's Legacy in Archives and Design
00:50:56
Speaker
2015, yeah. 2015 is not a little bit later than that. Okay. I had retired from customer service and they asked me to come back and work part-time in archives. So I felt the need to stay busy and stay with Justin Boot Company.
00:51:10
Speaker
You loved it that much. And that's what I want to get to talk about now is Eddie Kelly, the woman before you, yes kind of helped set the stage in the archives department. Tell me about Eddie's personality and who she was. Eddie Kelly was a quiet woman, but she was
00:51:31
Speaker
she She did a great job with everything anything she did. She came to work. She had married a man in um and their service, and they were stationed here in Fort Worth. And she said the marriage didn't last, but the love for Texas did. So she came to a square dance here and fell in love with the company and kept asking for a job. And they wouldn't hire her because she didn't have an in-depth ah employment history. But she kept asking. And they finally hired her. And she held three jobs in the factory. Every time somebody would get sick or go out on maternity leave or quit, she'd say, oh, i' I'll do that job.
00:52:09
Speaker
And then she was promoted to boot designer. And she had an office in the corner upstairs. And the story I've read about that is she had a sewing machine. She had an idea she'd go to her office, sit down at the sewing machine and stitch a pattern and then come downstairs to make the boot. Wow. so She made beautiful boots as well. She was very, very ahead of her time, I think, in that. ah But when she retired after 63 years... That's a long time. That was a long time to work when they thought at one time that she wouldn't be a valuable employee.
00:52:42
Speaker
But she was here for 63 years. And she worked in our house part time. And she could tell you, if we had a question from customer service about abuse, oh, that was in the 1976 catalog, or that was in the 1989 catalog. She knew exactly what catalog they were in. And she didn't go to that and pull the catalog for us. so She could remember everything. She never worked a computer. Everything was by hand. handwritten when I went back there in car archives. So yeah, if she had a an individual call and inquire about an old pair of boots, she would have us research it and then bring it to her and she'd call them back
Nancy's Role in Historical Preservation
00:53:24
Speaker
because she didn't know how to work the computer. She didn't use the computer, which would explain when we were looking at this boot earlier, I don't know if you guys can see this, but this was probably Eddie's handwriting, right? Or is this yours? No, that's my handwriting. This is yours, okay. Well still, a lot of her notes looked like this. And you passed on her tradition and I think that's really, really cool. And her her continually asking for a job, that says a lot about, I think, the stories that I've heard about her, of like, she just didn't really take no for an answer, which is going along the same theme of Annie and Jane and even Enid Justin, you know, along the way, which we forgot to mention. but
00:53:57
Speaker
um Anyways, yeah, I think that's so cool. And then I would say, Nancy, I don't wanna get too sentimental, but you feel the boots really well moving into archives. You are the only person I know that's done the archives in my short time here. And you're it's always fun going to visit with you because I learn a new story every time. And um that that's just because you're so um open and welcoming and and you have a passion to share the story. So I appreciate that. And one thing, one memory that I want to share really quick about Nancy, you guys is my first day on the job or first week, we always go. Everyone goes to see the archives to figure out the story. And I picked up a pair of presidential boots. I don't remember now. I think it was Trump's boots or maybe even a Kennedy's boots. I don't remember what President was. LBJ's boots. Okay. Okay. Yes. You know exactly what I'm talking about then. And I'm thinking, wow, this is cool. And next thing you know, you're telling me a story about your husband that used to work in security. So tell me that story about in Fort Worth the night before an iconic thing in history happened. Talk about it.
00:55:03
Speaker
My husband was a Fort Worth police officer and he was he was the youngest police officer at that time and he was ah asked to be the bodyguard for Kennedy in Fort Worth. He was in Fort Worth for a a big breakfast the next morning and he was here the night before and my husband got to stand outside his room and protect that room all night and the next morning he said that Kennedy came to the door and said ah Good job, young man. But ah my wife isn't quite ready, but she'll stand here and wait for her and escort her downstairs. It takes her longer to get dressed, but she always looks a lot nicer than I do. So he stayed up upstairs. We took him downstairs and came back and stayed outside for Jackie and met her and talked with her and then escorted her downstairs.
00:55:49
Speaker
and Sure enough that next event that they went to in Dallas was the last time in history A horrible very horrible history. Yes. Yeah last time that they would be seen again in public together and um That is so wild Nancy that that I mean, I'm telling you that's what Fort Worth is It's a hub for all kinds of different stories like this and that's why you're the perfect one for the archives department I i love it I always associate that story every time I step into the archives because I'm like I remember I'll never forget this ah um And it takes a person like you that cares about it to preserve it. And so I can't help but encourage everyone out there to um communicate more with you, get get your aunts questions answered. And you're going to hate that I'm saying this because you're like, I'm already busy as it is. I don't need anyone else. But you're you're using your customer service background to now cater to people that have questions about their boots. Just the other day this I mean this happens every day if we were to ask Nancy every single day what she does She would say oh, I just had this happen or this person just asked this question but just the other day someone from England sent their boots because um She had been wearing them for years and we learned that they were like really old boots. Yes And they finally split down the middle here, um which is so beyond crazy to me. So tell us about your experience in the archives then, because you get some crazy stories. Do you remember, like, what's the craziest story you've ever had about boots? Are you speaking archive days? Yeah, archive things. Well, people call all the time and ask me about how old a boot is it found in their father's or their grandfather's closet, how old it is, what it's made of, how to care for it, how much it's worth. And of course, I can't set a value on those boots.
00:57:28
Speaker
They're priceless? Yeah, they are priceless. I can tell them what they retailed for at the time they were made. But a lot of people, one of them I remember calling, he called me several times talking about some sea turtle boots. And sea turtle boots were gorgeous boots and we don't make those since 1970. six, I believe. wow ah We cannot make them anymore, but he had a pair of boots and he finally said on his one call, he said, I really, I don't have children. I have no one to leave these boots to. Would you like to have the boots? And I said, I'd love to have the boots, but I can't ship them over the state line.
00:58:11
Speaker
And I probably shouldn't say this, but he said, well, I'll just bring them to you. So I put them in the trunk of his car and drove them from another state here to Fort Worth and present them to my office. Wow. And then the lady you were talking about from England, I had purchased a pair of boots on Etsy. And five years ago, she had sent me an email asking how old the boots were and what they were. And they were made in the late 30s or 1940s. And she had bought them on Essie and worn them for several years. And then she contacted me again and said, these boots finally have a little tear in the very top of the boots and I'm afraid to have them repaired. So she wanted to send them to me. But there again, I couldn't bring them back from that area. So she was planning a family vacation and going to California.
00:59:04
Speaker
I sent her a call tag to a residence in California to bring the boots back to me and she mailed them back to me. Wow. Yeah. Just that's so, so crazy. You'll have to write that note in there when you store them away. and I did. I copied all my did all the um emails from five years ago. And in researching that boot, I found they were made for a in Porter harness and saddle shop and I thought why would his name be on one tag and the Justin name be on the other but he had a huge store and Taylor Texas I believe which is close to Austin and apparently he and Mr. Justin had crossed paths and they made Mr. Justin made the boots for his westerware store that he had also opened.
00:59:52
Speaker
which is so cool because it's a piece of history that we never knew. You know, we didn't get those dots connected. There's so many things that come through archives. It just, you know, there's so many interesting stories about my father wore these boots and I've worn them for years. And we have one picture in archives of a man from mineral wheels. I believe he had seven sons and one grandson and he sent a picture of them all and they all had on boots. And the caption said, We all wear Justin boots and the grandbaby will too soon.
Unique Historical Boots and Creative Innovations
01:00:23
Speaker
That's so true. We're kind of like a generational brand. And since we're talking about different boots, I've got to bring a few of these up. I'm so thankful that you brought these from the archives today because what's what's an episode without a little show and tell. That's true. So tell us about these boots. It looks like they were um in the 1970s. Correct. They were made, of course, when the salesman would come to town for a sales meeting, they had to have some entertainment and they played golf. So we made the salesman golf shoes, golf boots. And these are slick. Those were one of the salesmen, as a matter of fact, that worked for us during the 70s. Wow. And all the tags you see, I do try to put the date there were maidens in a short description. So when somebody comes in archives and wants to know what about the boots, they can turn it over. You can tell them. Like this is a tri quote tricolor iguana. Yes.
01:01:12
Speaker
Wow. Yes. And I just now notice this. Whoever wore them, whatever sells rep, it was has some leftover manure or dirt or grass or whatever. and Who knows where they went with these boots. And that right there is like, that's just cool, you know, to keep the history there. Yes. Okay. And then. Mr. Justin Jr. had a great personality and a great sense of humor. And he always said, anything you do, you can do better in boots. So he devised the roller skate boots.
01:01:43
Speaker
These suckers are heavy, let me tell you. I think they're still lighter than the normal traditional roller skates. But um yeah, 1955, Kangaroo. So they're made out of kangaroo. And you guys have probably seen these on our social media before. I think we did like an archives post. We can tag it below as well. But um talk about this. I know we've seen some trendy videos on social media lately of like new boot goofing or these funny trends where people have like duct tape or glued roller skate bottoms to boots. but Listen, y'all, it's really been done. It really was a thing. Were these made for the public or just for himself? No, just for... ah I do believe there's a picture over there where I saw a small child that was competing in some type of roller skate contest and she had on up here, but I don't think we ever made it for the public.
01:02:31
Speaker
Let me tell you, workout for sure. You can for sure get a workout with these, but very cool. Thank you for bringing them over from the archives, Nancy. These are just a few, hopefully I didn't break it. no um These are just a few of the boots that you get to deal with every day. and It might seem mundane to us workers here, but to you guys who haven't gotten to see them for the first time, check out our social media. There's a lot of archival posts that we've had um that really kind of help paint the picture. And one day we'll get to do ah a video. I'm going to make that a personal goal. and along with our producers behind the cameras here that are now probably not happy that I'm saying this but um of showing everyone what the archives looks like because when you picture archives you think of a museum and you do you really do have like a museum there's a whole room full of boots floor to ceiling boot boxes boots they're labeled they're um They're even, they have so much detail as like who they're from and when you
Conclusion and Audience Engagement
01:03:27
Speaker
receive them. And I think that is so important to preserve even the next 145 years of Justin. So Nancy, thank you. This has been so informative, so fun. And I am so thankful that you took the time to tell us about this. Thank you. Thank you for having me. I've enjoyed this also.
01:03:44
Speaker
And you guys, here's to another 145 years. That's it. We just went through 145 years in this episode of the Kick Your Boots Up podcast. If you liked what you saw, like, subscribe, share this with your friends, but most importantly, comment below and ask your questions. Do you have some boots that you're sitting on from the 1950s? Comment below. We'll pass them along to Nancy. She'll be able to give you all that she knows with her expertise on it all. So thank you guys for listening and we'll see you the next time you kick your boots up. Thanks for joining us on Kick Your Boots Up. I'm your host, Taylor McAdams, and we can't wait to share the next story of the West. Until then, feel free to like, subscribe, and leave us a review. Follow us on social media at Justin Boots to keep up with our next episode, and we'll see you the next time you kick your boots up.