I started making shoes in the late ’60s in southern California. I had just gotten out of the military, and wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do. But I knew that I wanted to do something that made people happy and made them feel good. I figured: a guy or gal with happy feet is sure to be happy all over. After all, my poor feet had just spent 3 years in a pair of jungle boots.
In 1970 a neighbor ordered a pair of sandals for $27.50. I thought my ship had come in. I made a lot of sandals for the beach combers, and then my wife & kids. And we moved to Kentucky—so I made boots and moccasins to keep their feet warm in the snow.
Since then, I’ve been involved in quite a few things—computer engineering, carpentry, the clergy—but I could never seem to give up making shoes. I figure I’ve been doing this for about 42 years—and I hope to do it for that many more.