Several years ago a potential customer brought in a pair of boots made for him by a Texas boot maker named Don Atkinson. The boots were beautiful; I particularly noticed how smoothly they joined at the sole and I realized I needed to do a better job in that respect. Since that day I’ve been much more careful in preparing the boots for the sole, making sure there are no bumps or wrinkles and the leather is carefully sanded so the sole will adhere, and I often think of him when I’m doing that process.

As far as I can remember I never met Don Atkinson, but a few days later I sent him a note telling him how much I had admired his work and how it inspired me to do better. I didn’t hear back from him but several months later his widow called. She said he’d died not long after my note arrived but she was calling to let me know that my words had meant a lot to him.

There are a few steps to be done before I lay the soles on these boots, but the foundation for the sole is smooth and clean, as Don would have wanted.