M.L. Leddy’s 100th Anniversary

BY KAYLEE BRISTER

In 1922, a cotton farmer-turnedentrepreneur by the name of M.L. Leddy took over a boot repair shop and saddlery near the small town of Brady, Texas. Leddy was known by the local farmers and ranchers for making the most comfortable cowboy boots in the area — and for providing the best customer service. Not only could Leddy repair worn-down boots, but he could take them apart and craft a better- than-new pair with the same materials.

Leddy shared his talent with his eight brothers — who eventually all worked for the two shops in di erent capacities through the years. During the Great Depression, the brothers often traded a paycheck for food for their families and a stake in the business. When other stores were hit by the Depression, Leddy purchased them and inherited their product. In 1936, Leddy purchased a store in San Angelo, Texas, and sometime afterward he began buying his brothers out of the business.

A few of the brothers took their money from the buyout and opened a store in Fort Worth, Texas, using the same methods they’d learned under Leddy. With Fort Worth’s booming cattle business at the time, the store thrived. Despite the store being competition, there were no hard feelings amongst the brothers — so long as they made good on the family name. Eventually, Leddy bought the Cowtown store from his brothers. Years later, his sons and son-in-law purchased the stores from him.

Today, Leddy’s legacy lives on through his namesake stores run by his lineage in San Angelo and Fort Worth — where top-notch customer service, hard work, family values and quality products are still king.

“ e family-owned company has always o ered the highest quality products available. Whether it be our boots, saddles, hand-shaped hats, custom tailored clothing, the nest belts and buckles, men’s and women’s jewelry, handbags or clothing: there’s a huge comfort in selling products you can be proud to o er,” said Mark Dunlap, vice president and general manager of M.L. Leddy’s.

And M.L. Leddy’s employees have every right to be proud of their products. In the last century, many western brands have turned to machines and advanced technology to whip out hundreds of look-alike cowboy boots a day — but not M.L. Leddy’s. e store employs around 20 artisans that handmake seven pairs of boots a day in their San Angelo location. Every step of the boot making process is customized, starting with hand-measuring each customer’s feet. Customers can choose the leather, heel height, toe type and stitching. Want your brand hand-stitched? They can do it. How about your alma mater? Done. Intricate flowers in your favorite color? They can do that, too.

“ ere’s a little bit of everybody who works here’s soul that goes into that boot, and when you get it, you feel it,” said M.L. Leddy’s granddaughter in a promotional video.

Not only do cowboys, ranchers and farmers frequent M.L. Leddy’s to purchase custom designed and perfectly t boots, but so do athletes, actors, a few U.S. presidents, and western wear admirers. Each fame-worthy name — along with their personal measurements — is scribbled down in old-fashioned bank ledgers amongst all the other customers. Despite their fame in the western industry and some notable customers, the store stays committed to those who have done business with them since the beginning — cowboys, and those who support cowboys.

eir commitment is shown not only through their high-quality products, but also through their generosity and involment in the industry, including their sponsorship of the National Cutting Horse Association.

“We made our rst saddle for the National Cutting Horse Association in the early ‘50s and have continued ever since,” said Dunlap. “M.L. Leddy’s owner, Wilson Franklin, has maintained a strong allegiance to the NCHA and continues to in uence the saddles we build today.” e saddles have just as much heart and soul poured into them as a pair of cowboy boots. Steven Schmidt, a saddle maker who has been with the store since 1982, does everything from building the saddle to hand-tooling it. Customers can customize a saddle to their liking, whether they want something t for an NCHA event or a replica of their grandfather’s saddle.

To celebrate 100 years of excellence, M.L. Leddy’s is hosting a customer appreciation party with vendors, food and refreshments on October 27, 2022 — just before Red Steagall’s Cowboy Gathering kicks o in Fort Worth. A tting time to celebrate an iconic store that has been a staple in the lives of cowboys since 1922.

What else is in store for M.L. Leddy’s in their centennial year and beyond? Well, they plan to keep up the store’s legacy for another 100 years, four generations and 300,000 pairs of boots.