Bootmaker
L.W. McGuffin
L. W. McGuffin learned boot and shoe repair as a boy in Roswell, New Mexico, where by age 12 he often ran the family's Main Street shop, teaching himself to build boot tops by watching other craftsmen. After moving to Portales he opened his own shop, later worked as a mortician, and kept a boot bench in the back of the family mortuary. Starting in 1981 he trained his daughter, Deana McGuffin, who carries on the craft.
Known for
Trained daughter and successor Deana McGuffin from 1981
Related: Deana McGuffin
Biography
History
L.W. McGuffin was a bootmaker in Roswell and later Portales, New Mexico, who taught his daughter Deana McGuffin the trade. By Deana’s own account, her father grew up in Roswell, and by age 12 was an accomplished boot and shoe repairman who often ran the family’s Main Street shop; he taught himself to build tops by watching other top makers.
While Roswell was still talking about the 1947 UFO incident, the family moved to Portales, where he opened his own shop. He later sold that shop and worked in his wife’s family mortuary business as a mortician and funeral director, keeping a room at the back of the mortuary where he built boot tops for a local bootmaker and his own orders. He became an expert leather carver, equipped a full boot shop at his home in the early 1970s, and in 1981 began training Deana after she had asked for a year. True West (2 October 2006) calls him her late father and quotes her describing him as a perfectionist. No birth year or death date survives.
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Historical references are cited with the history above.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.