1950s Custom Cowboy Boots by Frank Polk
Size: Men’s 10 D (Estimated based on measurements)
Maker: Benjamin Franklin “Frank” Polk
Location: Mason, Texas
Era: 1950s
These remarkable dark brown leather cowboy boots are a genuine artifact of mid-century Texas Hill Country history, crafted by the renowned—yet under-the-radar—custom bootmaker Benjamin Franklin “Frank” Polk. While Frank Polk may not have achieved the massive commercial fame of some of his contemporaries, his craftsmanship was legendary within the ranching communities of Central Texas, and his legacy lives on through his grandson, Rex Klingelhoefer, who continues the family bootmaking tradition to this day.
The Craftsmanship
These boots exhibit the masterful, functional artistry that defined the golden age of Texas bootmaking. Constructed from rich, dark brown leather, the boots feature an elaborate, flowing leaf or wheat-patterned stitch design that covers the entire shaft. This intricate stitching was not merely decorative; as traditional bootmakers knew, heavy stitching helped stiffen the boot tops to prevent them from sagging during long days in the saddle.
The boots feature a classic pointed toe and an underslung riding heel, hallmarks of authentic working cowboy boots from the 1950s. The soles and heels show honest wear, bearing the authentic patina of decades of use, yet the leather remains remarkably well-preserved, showcasing the durability of Polk’s custom craftsmanship.
Frank Polk and the Mason, Texas Connection
Benjamin Franklin “Frank” Polk (1895–1977) was a native of Mason, Texas, a small ranching community in the Texas Hill Country [1]. In 1947, a small, white, two-story building was constructed at 118 Westmoreland Street in Mason specifically to house Polk’s boot shop [2]. From this shop, Polk crafted custom boots and belts for local ranchers, townspeople, and even the local high school cheerleaders.
Mason, Texas, was a hub of Western culture during this era. The town was the lifelong home of Fred Gipson, the famous author who wrote the classic novel Old Yeller (1956) [3]. The Polk and Gipson families were closely intertwined; in fact, Fred Gipson’s sister, Stella Alice Gipson, married into the Polk family, becoming Stella Gipson Polk—a respected local teacher and author of Mason and Mason County: A History [4].
This tight-knit community connection brought Hollywood to Frank Polk’s doorstep. When Walt Disney adapted Old Yeller into a feature film in 1957, the starring role of Jim Coates went to Fess Parker, the famous actor who had already achieved superstardom playing Davy Crockett [5]. Parker, who was raised in nearby San Angelo, Texas, became friends with both Fred Gipson and Frank Polk. A historic photograph, still displayed in the Mason boot shop today, shows Frank Polk alongside his friends Fred Gipson and Fess Parker [6]. Polk’s reputation for quality led him to craft custom boots for Parker, cementing his quiet but significant place in Western pop culture history.
A Living Legacy
Unlike many historic boot shops that have faded into memory, Frank Polk’s legacy is actively preserved. Today, his grandson, Rex Klingelhoefer, still operates the custom boot shop out of the very same 1947 building on Westmoreland Street in Mason [2].
Klingelhoefer is highly respected in the modern custom boot world, known for taking three to six months to craft a single pair of boots designed specifically for working ranchers [7]. The family tradition has even extended to a fourth generation, with Rex’s son Ben having grown up in the shop [6].
Owning a pair of original Frank Polk boots is an opportunity to hold a piece of authentic Texas history—a tangible link to the era of Old Yeller, Fess Parker, and the enduring legacy of the Hill Country’s finest craftsmen.
***Huge thanks to Evan Voyles for providing more insight on the boots and Frank Polk
