SINCE 1883
LUCCHESE THROUGH THE YEARS
1860 - 1880s
Salvatore Lucchese, future founder of Lucchese, is born in Palermo, Sicily, Italy. His father, Gaetano Lucchese, is a shoemaker.
Salvatore Lucchese immigrates to the United States of America. He reportedly arrives in Galveston, Texas by ship, which sailed from Palermo, Italy. Salvatore Lucchese arrived with his brother Joseph Lucchese.
Salvatore and Joseph Lucchese move to San Antonio, Texas to set up a bootmaking shop at Fort Sam Houston, a United States Cavalry School in San Antonio.
In 1883 Salvatore Lucchese immigrates to the United States of America. He reportedly arrives in Galveston, Texas by ship, which sailed from Palermo, Italy. Salvatore Lucchese arrived with his brother Joseph Lucchese.
1890s
Salvatore and his brothers Joseph, Michael and Antonio purchase the first "inseamer" machine shipped to the Southwest United States. Sam Lucchese said of his grandfather, "If he got any word of a new machine, he wanted to be the first to try it."
Mr. W. Shock becomes the earliest entry in the Lucchese company measuring boots. His boots consist of kangaroo with a 1.5-inch heel, totaling $9.00.
First Reg. Texas Volunteer Cavalry marches in front of Lucchese Bros. Store on East Houston Street in San Antonio, Texas.
1900s
Founder Salvatore hunts with sons Cosimo and Gaetano.
1910s
Lorenzo Quesada of Mexico purchases a pair of Moroccan Calf boots, becoming the earliest recorded international purchase of Lucchese boots.
Salvatore Lucchese purchases the Teatro Zaragoza, a Mexican-American theater in San Antonio.
1920s
Robert J. Kleberg Sr. of the King Ranch (one of the largest ranches in the world, located in South Texas) purchases a pair of Lucchese lace boots at a price of $37.50. Under Kleberg's direction, the ranch operation grew from 600,000 acres to 1,300,000 acres.
Salvatore Lucchese suffers a stroke. Cosimo Lucchese, his son, returns to Lucchese to run the family business for his father. He'd previously ventured out to create his own boot company in 1921.
Gen. Frank Purdy Lahm purchases a pair of Lucchese military boots for a price of $40.00. General Lahm was known as the “the father of Air Force flight training.” He met the Wright Brothers in 1907 and used his interest in flying to become the Army’s first certified pilot in 1909.
Lucchese founder Salvatore with grandsons Sam (Sammy) and Bob Lucchese.
While playing dominoes at home with his family, Lucchese founder Salvatore dies in San Antonio.
Lucchese is incorporated in San Antonio Texas by S.L. Gill (President), Cosimo Lucchese (Vice-President) and M. Millken (Secretary).
1930s
Ed F. Echols purchases a pair of Lucchese cowboy boots and a pair of Lucchese shoes. After working as a cowboy in Texas, he traveled to Arizona via covered wagon in 1902. Echols is considered the driving force behind the beginning and growth of professional rodeo in Tucson.
Charles Kreuz, Sr. of Luling, Texas purchases a pair of cowboy boots. Mr. Kreuz founded world-famous barbecue outpost, Kreuz Market, in 1900, which still operates today.
Actress Josephine Hutchinson purchases a pair of Lucchese cowboy boots (noted to be “not too stiff in legs”) at a price of $23.50. She was one of a handful of actresses able to make the transition from silent movies to “talkies.”
Lt. Col. L.J. Maitland purchases a pair of Lucchese military dress shoes at a price of $35.00. In 1927, L.J. Maitland, along with A.F. Hegenberger, made the first airplane flight from the U.S. mainland to Hawaii, flying 2,425 miles in 23 hours.
Jimmy Doolittle of St. Louis purchases a pair of Lucchese boots. Doolittle, an Army flight instructor stateside during World War I, gained fame during the 1920s for numerous speed and distance records. Doolittle received the Medal of Honor from President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the White House for planning and leading his raid on Japan.
1940s
Singer and actor Bing Crosby writes to Lucchese, requesting a catalog and a pair of boots to be made for him in "nice, soft leather — the best you have in stock."
Academy Award winning actor Gregory Peck visits Lucchese.
Actor Gary Cooper visits Lucchese. Cooper's career spanning from 1925 until his death. Across the one hundred films he starred in, he received five Academy Award nominations for Best Actor. His stoic onscreen demeanor made him a favorite in the western genre.
Acme Boot Company commissioned Lucchese to build a collection of state boots for an advertising campaign. It took Lucchese four years to build the entire collection. Each state boot features unique and exact colors for the states flag, capitol, bird, flower and state commodity. Master bootmakers Cosimo Lucchese, Jesse Garcia and Carlos Hernandez Jr. contributed to this project.
1950s
Senator (and future U.S. President) Lyndon Baines Johnson visits Lucchese.
Cowboy, singer-songwriter and actor Rex Allen visits Lucchese and purchases three pairs of cowboy boots. Allen had the distinction of making the final “singing western” movie. His narration work with Walt Disney Films earned him the nickname “The Voice of the West.”
Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor visits Lucchese. Born in Budapest, Gabor became a famous socialite and film star in America.
1960s
Actor, singer and businessman Jimmy Dean visits Lucchese. Though today he may best be known as the creator of the Jimmy Dean sausage brand, he became a national television personality in 1957, rising to fame for his 1961 country crossover hit "Big Bad John.”
Fifteen days before the U.S. Presidential inauguration, Caroline Bouvier Kennedy, daughter of President-elect John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, has her feet measured for a pair of Lucchese boots, a gift from Vice President-elect Lyndon Johnson. Soon after the Kennedy family arrived in the White House, Caroline would also be given a pony by LBJ named Macaroni.
Texas “Tex” Schramm, then Vice-President and General Manager of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, contacted Lucchese to make custom Dallas Cowboys boots. Reportedly, there were 66 pairs made for players, coaches and staff.
Sandra Dee and Jimmy Stewart visit Lucchese. Sandra Dee began her professional career as a model and transitioned into film, where she became one of the most popular stars of the 1960s.
U.S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson is photographed on his ranch in Stonewall, Texas wearing Lucchese boots.
1970s
Blue Bell Corporation purchases Lucchese.
President LBJ sends a letter to Sam Lucchese, thanking him for thinking of him and encouraging the president to “get back in the saddle.” Says the president: “I trust that you know that when I am able to do that, it will be in a pair of Lucchese boots.”
A photo runs in National Geographic magazine of the Lucchese factory, where boots are shown during the lasting process.
An article titled "Sam Lucchese's Boots are for the Rhinestone Cowboy in Everyone" runs in People magazine.
1980s
U.S. President Ronald Reagan presents King Hassan II of Morocco with a pair of Lucchese boots.
Lucchese announces it will move its operations from San Antonio to El Paso, Texas.
Lucchese produces a pair of "inaugural boots" for incoming U.S. President George H. W. Bush.
2000s
Lucchese releases the 125th Anniversary Boot, of which only 125 pairs would be produced and sold for $12,500 a pair.
Prince Harry of Wales leads the Lucchese Polo team against Audi for the Stanford Commodore's Cup.
Lucchese announces a partnership with the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger purchases a Lucchese 125th Anniversary Boot.
Texas Governor Rick Perry is measured for a pair of Lucchese's 125th Anniversary Boots.
The 81st Texas Legislature introduces House Bill 226, relating to the commemoration of the 125th anniversary of Lucchese.
2010s
Lucchese Collegiate Boots, a collection of 17 university logo embroidered cowboy boots, are introduced.
Lucchese is announced as the official boot of the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders.
Lucchese Polo team captures its third consecutive Bombardier Pacific Coast Open Championship at Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club.