Who In El Paso Could Actually ID Tony Lama?

If you've been in El Paso for more than 30 minutes, you know the name. If you've been here over a month, you know his business and, if you've been here any longer, you wear it.

Tony Lama is well known and not just in the 915 but would you know him if you saw him? The legendary boots bearing his name are world renowned and wrapped around the feet of everyday people as well as famous politicians, rock stars, actors and athletes.

He passed away long ago so not many outside the boot making world know what he looked like. You will shortly ...

A transplanted orphan from New York lied about his age to get into the US Calvary at 16, wound up in El Paso when his service ended and started running this shoe repair shop on Overland. 

Now, you can finally put a name to the face and see the building where one of the most well - known and legendary boot brands in the world was born.

Tony Lama Fun Facts

He started his company in 1911, had 6 kids, (3 boys, 3 girls) and taught each of them how to make boots and how to run a business. Something each did in time.

1948 - The first pair of Tony Lama boots made for a "big shot" were presented to, (then), POTUS Harry Truman by Tony's oldest son Joseph.

READ MORE: El Paso's Bootmaker To The ROCK Stars

1967 - Union Buster? In '67, the plant was moved to a bigger location at 1137 Tony Lama Street ... it's still there, (pretty much) right across I-10 from the Fountains ...where half their employees were unionized. Yep, half 'n half.

I love this part of the story - Tony didn't let anybody tell him what to do and he himself didn't tell his employees what to do. Free thinking was a rare thing, even then.

Why Tony Lama Allowed Union And Non - Union

Tony didn't want to make enemies I guess so he went a little biblical, (think King Soloman), and let his peeps split themselves as far as whether to unionize or not. Meanwhile, he and his family kept things rolling while they sorted out the mess.

After a dispute between a union worker and a non-union worker, the Lama family, including the children and grandchildren, took on the production at the factory working overtime to make up for lost work. - tonylama.com

In 1970, the union contract came up for renewal. It was rejected.

1990 - No More Tony Lama?

In the 1980's, Tony Lama made the boots for just about every Hollywood movie you care to name. As the 90's began, things slowed a little and Justin Boots, whose factory is now in El Paso, bought the Tony Lama Company. Tony Lamas' are still made in El Paso though and the Lama lineage lives on too ...

Although many Lama generations have passed on, you can still find Tony Lama Sr.’s living on today through his grandson, Joe Lama, who still works as a leather purchaser at the company today. - tonylama.com