20 JAN 1989 - Bobby Baker of Lucchese Boot
Co. in El Paso displays the company's 1989 inaugural boots that go on
sale for $500 a pair Saturday at one of many balls that follow today's
swearing-in ceremonies. (Rudy Gutierrez / El Paso Times)
20 January 1989
Inaugural partygoers get kicks in El Paso
By Doug DesGeorges
El Paso Times
Lucchese Boot Co. of El Paso is making the commemorative boots for the George Bush inauguration.
A $500 pair of goatskin boots will be displayed at Saturday’s Black Tie and Boots ball in Washington and people there can order the boots. The inauguration is today.
Lucchese previously has made boots for such celebrities as John Wayne, Tommy Lasorda and Lyndon Johnson.
Lucchese President John Tillotson said the company didn’t bid for the contract to make inauguration boots. It was asked by the committee handling details for the inauguration.
“They didn’t consider anyone else,” Tillotson said.
Tillotson thought the Republicans would want alligator-skin boots, which run about $1,5000 a pair. Instead, the committee asked for goatskin, which is a dark cherry color.
“The Republican Party went a little cheap on us,” Tillotson said. “I guess not all of them have money.”
But, he added, the goatskin boots are the company’s biggest seller.
The boots will be made at Lucchese’s plant, 6601 Montana, where the company has been ever since it moved from San Antonio three years ago. In 1988, the company made 27,000 pairs of boots, up from 18,000 in 1987.
The inaugural boot will have a special seal set into it. The seal has a picture of the White House surrounded by the names of President-elect George Bush and Vice President-elect Dan Quayle and the words "1989 Inauguration.”
Only one pair of boots has been finished so far. That pair left El Paso Wednesday for Washington and will be on display there.
Lucchese doesn’t know how many boots will be ordered. Tillotson is waiting for Saturday’s ball.
“I think a big crunch will come Saturday night,” he said.
Comments