Bootmaker
Samuel James Lucchese
Samuel James Lucchese (1923–1980), grandson of founder Sam Lucchese, returned from Navy service in World War II to work at the family’s Lucchese Boot Company and became its president in 1961. He sold the company to Blue Bell in 1970 but stayed on as president, won the Leather Industries of America’s Designers Award in 1971, and later worked for Tony Lama. His boots were made for clients including John Wayne and Lady Bird Johnson.
Related: Lucchese · Sam Lucchese
History
Samuel James Lucchese was born 9 November 1923 in San Antonio, Texas, the son of Cosimo Lucchese and grandson of company founder Sam Lucchese, who had founded the firm in 1883. He attended Alamo Heights High School and the University of Texas, served in the Navy during World War II, and returned in 1945 to work alongside his father at Lucchese Boot Company.
He worked for Acme Boot Company starting in 1957, then came back to lead the family firm as president in 1961 after his father's death. He designed boots for clients including John Wayne, Gary Cooper, Gregory Peck, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Gene Autry, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Lady Bird and Lyndon B. Johnson, and Winthrop Rockefeller.
In 1969 he consulted for Wrangler Boot Company in Nashville. In 1970 he sold Lucchese Boot Company to Blue Bell of Greensboro, North Carolina, staying on as president, and in 1971 he received the Designers Award from the Leather Industries of America. In 1977 he went to work for the Tony Lama Company in El Paso. He died on 20 May 1980 in Houston. He was married to Jacquelyn Mercer and had three children.
Known for
Lucchese president from 1961; designed boots for Hollywood clients