Born to Italian immigrant parents in 1887, Tony Lama learned his first lessons in the boot industry at the early age of 11. An uncle apprenticed the boy to a shoemaker in Syracuse, New York where he learned the leather and boot trade.Realizing the importance of a good boot fit from his stint in the US Cavalry after the turn of the century, Tony Lama set out to make the best fitting, most comfortable boot possible.In the 1930s, Western wear stores began asking for his boots. To meet the growing demands, Tony Lama developed methods to produce greater quantities without sacrificing the key steps in hand crafting. In 1961, nearly 50 years after the first store opened, the company moved into larger quarters and began making 750 pairs of boots a day.Tony Lama passed away in 1974, but his sons and daughters continued his tradition of quality and handcraftsmanship, making this a true American success story. The legacy created by the humble cobbler, a hard working entrepreneur with a fierce pride in his craft, lives
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