A Boot Collector Feature
Founded in Houston in 1938, now carried forward by Rocky Carroll — backed by a craftsman once called "maybe the state's finest."
R.J.'s Boot Company was started in Houston, Texas in 1938, and Rocky Carroll has carried the business forward as a worthy successor to his father. A Texas Monthly feature on the state's top custom bootmakers noted that Carroll is backed by independent contractors including Antonio Sanchez, then 76 years old, described in the piece as "maybe the state's finest craftsman," who worked semi-exclusively for the shop from a garage in Mercedes, Texas. The shop specializes in conservative, upscale boots with artistic tops — corporate logos and gold-and-silver inlays among them — with pairs at the time starting around $295 and a two-week turnaround.
Conservative, upscale custom boots with a reach that included both Presidents Bush, Governor Rick Perry, and country singer Dolly Parton as past customers.
An 86-year-old Houston name built on logo and metallic inlay work.
Pairs from smaller, custom, or long-closed makers rarely come up for sale, so this search may not find anything. It’s worth checking back now and then.