Paul Bond · History

Biography

Paul Bond (1915–2012) bridges working cowboy/rodeo life and mid-century Hollywood–country custom bootmaking better than almost any Encyclopedia peer.

Birth / youth: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum places birth in Seminole, Texas (1915) and youth on the family ranch near Carlsbad, New Mexico. Shop marketing sometimes shortens this to “born in Carlsbad.”

As a teenager he broke green horses for the U.S. Cavalry and earned money making/repairing boots in a Carlsbad saddle shop. Around 16 he entered bareback bronc riding at Hope, New Mexico, went professional, built a trick-riding act, performed with Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus in the 1930s, and contested major venues including Fort Worth, Boston Garden, and Madison Square Garden. He was among early Cowboys' Turtle Association members (PRCA predecessor).

Boot company: In 1946 he purchased a partnership in a boot company. Full-time bootmaking after hanging up rodeo spurs in the late 1940s. The Nogales, Arizona shop dates to the mid-1950s — True West says 1955; the museum and company legacy page say 1957.

Nogales gave access to skilled Mexican leather craftsmen. Arizona Highways-era reporting described about 20 employees and 2,000+ pairs/year.

Later life: NPR interviewed him at the bench at about age 90 (2006). The city named the road Paul Bond Drive. He frequented the shop into his final years. Died February 2012, age 96. The shop continues; True West quotes Rodney Ammons calling him “a real gentleman and a damned fine bootmaker.”

Honors / cultural credits

• National Rodeo Hall of Fame, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum — inducted 1992 (bareback bronc rider, trick rider, bootmaker).
• True West “Bootmaker of the Year” recognitions (including 2011).
• Live Encyclopedia / museum shorthand: “dean of Western bootmakers.”

People credits

Well-attested across museum / True West / long press: Montie Montana, John Wayne, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Rex Allen, and broadly “hundreds of rodeo cowboys.”

Shop marketing and secondary features also name Sinatra, Cash, Eastwood, McQueen, Elvis, Reagan, Willie Nelson, and others.

Craftspeople: Long-tenured Nogales makers (Arizona Highways historically named Jose Cedeno). Family continues operations (True West: descendants; granddaughter-in-law Shannon Enciso quoted).