debiWickenburg

Hi, Debi Killer, Wickenburg Arizona (actually a cabin in the woods in Peeples Valley Arizona) I remember when Everett Bowman, Cowboys Turtle (Rodeo) Association founding and championship all-around cowboy, died...they used our high school gymnasium for his funeral...our rodeo arena is still dedicated to him. Actually, I am still friends with his granddaughter Rochelle (taught her to high jump) and great granddaughter, Clarissa. Anyway, my husband put in a bid for a kids' saddle at Bruce Meier's saddle shop (Ray's Saddlery and later Ben's Saddlery, Wickenburg) and bought the saddle...$325 and we didn't even have kids yet. I think I was a little miffed at the time but when he got it home I noticed the distinctive Bowman Brand and I was thrilled, have kept it in the house since the '80s. Now I have a 2-year-old granddaughter, Wiggles, and after we sent the little Bowman saddle to a friend Randy Foraker to "clean and little repairs" we saw the Porter Stamp and were even more excited to clean and recondition it right. So I was substitute teaching 8th grade yesterday, they have 2 days of school left, it was a bit like herding cats, so I googled Porter Saddles and I wound up on this site and was thrilled. First thing this morning I called Randy and he said he is ever so gently taking things apart for a good cleaning...we talked our way to the card nailed to the tree and the stamps, so thrilled you put these testimonials and photos up...thank you, thank you, all. So, the tag says Everett Bowman and the number is 20804. There is another number 800 and in a four leaf clover pattern the numbers 8, 2, 2, 4. I would love a photo of the card and the information...Randy says this is the second Porter Saddle he has had in to recondition and I will be sure and leave him this resource. This was already an opportunity for me as a 60-year-old kid from Wickenburg, to own a piece of our cowboy history. I used to keep my horse at Ray Bybee's place on the Hassayampa River, then it sold to David Stout, RCA Hall of Famer, I mean PRCA and I remember him being proud to live in Everett's home town. I would watch the Rifleman with Mr. Stout and he knew Johnny Crawford that played the boy Mark. I was thrilled to find out my classmate Donna was Mr. David's grandpa. Here I am an old lady and this Cowboy history, I still have the utmost respect for!! I worked in Ray's Saddlery and buckstitched belts for my B Bar K silver buckle, pulled beeswax strings on Cheyenne Rolls, worked repairing shoes, neatsfoot oiling the boys ball gloves every Spring...it was a great way to grow up and I am thankful every day to have grown up with this foundation. This little saddle will carry my granddaughter and carry on the history of leather craftsmanship and Wickenburg, now the team roping capitol of the world...we have upgraded from Dude Ranch Capitol, I guess. Thank you for your time and for putting this up on the internet...I will gladly pay for your time and service. I am also curious, every summer I got a pair of Porter's leather thong sandals. We would buy them at Johnson's Dry Goods Store in downtown Wickenburg. I am not sure, but I think they came in white and tan, stitched sole...all leather, real leather. Did you guys make those too? The came in a plain white shoe box and they were your school and go to town shoes, we played barefoot so as not to mess them up. Again, thank you, Debi Killer killerfm@earthlink.net I will post a picture when I get the saddle back : ) and when the littlest cowgirl takes her first ride.