Bootmaker
Clyde Vasquez
Clyde Vasquez was the older of two brothers who made boots upstairs at M.L. Leddy's, where he and his brother Joe trained apprentice bootmaker Mike Vaughn. In a 2019 interview, Vaughn remembered Clyde as the quieter, more exacting teacher, a man who sharpened his tools on a rock and showed a step once before expecting a student to repeat it. No birth or death dates were recorded.
Known for
Taught bootmaker Mike Vaughn upstairs at M.L. Leddy's
Related: M.L. Leddy · Joe Vasquez · Mike Vaughn
Biography
History
Clyde Vasquez was one of two brothers who made boots upstairs at M.L. Leddy’s. In a 25 April 2019 interview, fellow bootmaker Mike Vaughn recalled the pair as “the two Mexican Brothers that made boots upstairs at Leddy’s,” describing Clyde as the quieter, older teacher (his brother Joe was younger). Clyde would show a technique once and then leave his apprentice to practice it, sharpening his tools on a rock; Vaughn, recalling going to lunch with him, described Clyde at the time as “a 70-year old man.”
Other accounts — a Waggoner Ranch profile of Vaughn and a piece from the Colorado River Land Trust — describe a somewhat different apprenticeship sequence, placing Vaughn’s training under Clyde and Joe earlier and saying the brothers “went on to work” for Leddy’s, rather than having already been there. No birth year, death year, or style number survives for Clyde Vasquez.
Sources
Identification and markings
Maker-specific markings guidance has not been documented yet. Preserve the complete stamp and compare it against dated sources.
Sources and references
Historical references are cited with the history above. Each catalog record includes its own supporting evidence.
Encyclopedia references: CowboyBootsDB and maker archives linked where available. Historical dates and attributions can vary by source.