Hyer Boots

Hyer Boot Company is a historical American footwear brand that has been widely credited in historical accounts with contributing to the development of the modern cowboy boot.[1][2][3][4][5] Founded in 1880 by Charles H. Hyer in Olathe, Kansas, the company operated for 102 years before being sold in 1977.[6] In 2023, the brand was relaunched under the name HYER by Zach Lawless, a fifth-generation descendant of the founder.[7]

History

Charles H. Hyer, a shoemaker and leatherwork instructor at the Kansas State School for the Deaf, began making boots from his home in Olathe in 1875.[3][8] According to historical accounts, in 1876, a cowboy requested a custom boot that would better suit horseback riding.[3] Hyer designed a boot with a pointed toe, higher heel, and scalloped top.[3] This design gained popularity, leading to growing demand and the establishment of a bootmaking business.[1]

Hyer's company expanded significantly, employing family members, former students, and immigrant craftsmen.[3] It eventually adopted the name C.H. Hyer and Sons.[3] The company introduced a mail-order system that included measuring instructions, allowing it to serve customers across the United States and internationally.[9][10] A version of Hyer's measuring system is still used by modern boot makers.[10]

In 1919, the company was selling 15,000 pairs of boots per year and became known nationally as one of the largest handmade boot manufacturers.[6] Throughout the early and mid-20th century, Hyer boots were worn by figures such as Buffalo Bill Cody, Will Rogers, President Calvin Coolidge, and President Theodore Roosevelt.[6][11]

Hyer Boots played a prominent role in the community life and economic fabric of Olathe, Kansas. The company's growth made it one of the region's major employers, and its factory became a local landmark. Hyer frequently engaged with local institutions, including hiring graduates from the Kansas State School for the Deaf and supporting regional events like the Johnson County Old Settlers parade.[12][13] Hyer's cultural impact has also been featured in museums and historical exhibits, such as the permanent displays at the Museum of Deaf History, Arts & Culture in Olathe and the Johnson County Museum.[14][15]

After Charles H. Hyer died in 1921, his sons continued to run the company.[6] By the 1960s and 1970s, the company faced challenges, including a decline in skilled labor and changes in manufacturing processes.[1] In 1977, the Hyer family sold the business to the Ben Miller Boot Company of El Paso, Texas, which moved operations and phased out the Hyer brand.[1]

Relaunch

In 2023, entrepreneur Zach Lawless, the great-great-grandson of Charles Hyer, relaunched the brand as HYER Boots after acquiring the trademark from its previous owner.[7][16] Lawless partnered with Western lifestyle company Teton Ridge and brought on individuals with prior experience in the footwear and Western wear industries.[7] The relaunch kept the original boot designs while incorporating updated materials and features.[9]

Sponsorship

Since relaunching in 2023, HYER has become the official boot sponsor of several professional rodeo cowboys and cowgirls.[17]

HYER is the official boot sponsor of The American Rodeo.[18]

HYER is the official boot sponsor of the National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA).[19]

In 2024 and 2025, HYER was the official boot sponsor of the Arizona Ridge Riders; one of 10 bull riding teams in the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Team Series held every summer and autumn.[20]

In 2024, HYER released a special pair of boots to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the American Royal.[21]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Hyer Cowboy Boots - Kansapedia - Kansas Historical Society". www.kansashistory.gov. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  2. ↑ "Autry's Collections Online –". collections.theautry.org. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Tall Tales from the Old West - June 21, 2019". Kansas Public Radio. 2019-06-21. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  4. ↑ "Hyer cowboy boots - Kansas Memory". www.kansasmemory.gov. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  5. ↑ Cabe, Caroline (2023-03-17). "Ride HYER With The Relaunch Of The Historical Boot Brand". Cowboys and Indians Magazine. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Historical Winner". Kansas Business Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  7. 1 2 3 King, Mary (2022-12-07). "Kansas City company, makers of the original cowboy boot, is relaunching in 2023". Kansas City Business Journal. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  8. ↑ "Hyer Boot Factory". MDHAC. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  9. 1 2 Collins, Leslie (2023-02-14). "Hyer Boots CEO wants resurrected family brand to be 'crown jewel' of industry". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  10. 1 2 JoCoMuseum (2014-02-27). "Hyer Boots, home of the cowboy boot". JoCoHistory Blog. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  11. ↑ "Hyer Boot Company - Kansapedia - Kansas Historical Society". www.kansashistory.gov. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  12. ↑ "Rodeos to Roundabouts - Crossroads Community Exhibit". Crossroads: Change in Rural America - Kansas Tour. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  13. ↑ Gamboa, Ryan (2025-05-27). "Hyer Boots brand reconnects with its Olathe roots". KSHB 41 Kansas City News. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  14. ↑ "FEATURED EXHIBITS". MDHAC. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  15. ↑ "Special Exhibit: Collecting | Johnson County Park & Rec, KS". www.jcprd.com. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  16. ↑ Collins, Leslie (2023-12-01). "Resurrected Hyer Boots lassos cowboy boot retailers nationwide, coveted sponsorship". Kansas City Business Journal – via The Business Journals.
  17. ↑ "Beyond the Arena Lights: Unveiling the Vibrant Lives of HYER Sponsored Rodeo Athletes". HYER Boots. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Boots of Champions: A Legacy of Triumph at the American Rodeo". HYER Boots. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Official Boot of the NHSRA". HYER Boots. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Ridge Rider Days". HYER Boots. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  21. ↑ "American Royal". HYER Boots. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.