This is one of the only photos I have of my first boot making mentor, Jay Griffith. He was a walking contradiction — mean, but also sometimes kind; profane, but he also prayed for me once when I had a headache (and it went away!); gruff and hard, but with the most delicate touch for boot top design. I am so grateful I had the opportunity to know and learn from him. He worked with Archer LaForce, who worked with Gus Blucher, so I can trace my boot making lineage directly back to Gus Blucher.