Zach Lawless and the Hyer Boot Company – A helluva comeback!

By Gina Stuelke, CEO of Kenton Brothers

Zach Lawless and the Hyer Boot Company - A helluva comeback!It’s not often that I get to meet an entrepreneur with a company that is older than ours. Kenton Brothers was started in 1897. But Hyer Boot Company made its debut in 1875!

Hyer Boot Company began in a small cobbler shop in Olathe, Kansas and became the pioneers of the cowboy boot. In 1875, a cowboy entered C. H. Hyer’s cobbler shop and asked for custom boots that would work better for cattle driving. This was the first “cowboy boot”. After that first pair, the word spread. Orders came in from cattlemen, rodeo performers and even celebrities like Buffalo Bill Cody and Marilyn Monroe.

In the early 1900s, Hyer became the largest handmade boot manufacturer in America.

They were ahead of their time by selling boots through mail order. They also came up with design improvements like the toe bug and fork construction for pull tabs. During World War I and II, HYER Boots made footwear for military personnel, including notable figures like Teddy Roosevelt and Eisenhower.

Zach Lawless and the Hyer Boot Company - A helluva comeback!Sadly, in the 1970s, financial hardships led the family to give up control of the business. When the dust settled, the Hyer brand eventually shut down. But that is not the end of the story! In the 1990s, Zach Lawless, the great-great-grandson of C.H. Hyer, found family memorabilia and felt compelled to revive the business. After reclaiming the trademark for “Creator of the First Cowboy Boot” from Berkshire Hathaway, the HYER Boot Company was relaunched. Their first boot was the Horseman & Ranch Boot.

Check out the incredible story of Zach’s journey to resurrect his 5th generation business in this YouTube video. This is such a good video! It transcends the revival of a family business. My hope is that you can relate to this story about finding treasures passed down from your family.

Special thanks to Brad Holdhusen and his group from Prime Capital Investment Advisors who hosted a great customer event on a warm October evening at Silo in Lenexa to celebrate the American Royal and its new location in Kansas City, Kansas and the revival of Hyer Boots, makers of The original cowboy boot™!

Zach Lawless and the Hyer Boot Company - A helluva comeback!

Ronald McDonald House Food Drive Recap!

Ronald McDonald House Food Drive Recap! Ronald McDonald House Food Drive Recap! Ronald McDonald House Food Drive Recap!

By Gina Stuelke, CEO of Kenton Brothers

“Team work makes the DREAM WORK!”
– Alan Lubert RMHCKC

Back in the July, KB’s Kulture Club enjoyed a tour of the Ronald McDonald House in KC to learn more of how we could be a partner to support them and the families they serve.

One suggestion was to provide goodie grab bags for the families to enjoy during their busy schedules always on the go. So, KB started a food drive with our team! Our efforts produced three large boxes of food plus $300 in cash donations. We filled up over 250 ‘grab + go’ bags, 2 shopping bags of refrigerated Sargento protein packs, and some sweet treats for Halloween. KB’s Shawn Hamilton + Alison Hackathorn were huge players in making this all happen –Special thanks to the both of them!

A special thank you goes out to our favorite grocery store family at Cosentino’s Food Stores, for helping us with packaging materials and discounted pricing for the items we purchased to give to RMH. They’ve been serving KC for over 75 years!

Ronald McDonald House Food Drive Recap! Ronald McDonald House Food Drive Recap! Ronald McDonald House Food Drive Recap!

Our Mid-Missouri office also got in on the fun and provided Breakfast for Dinner to the RMH in Columbia!

Thank you to Ronald McDonald House Charities for making a huge difference in the lives of so many—and keeping families close to their sick children so they can get the care and support they need!

Ronald McDonald House Food Drive Recap! Ronald McDonald House Food Drive Recap! Ronald McDonald House Food Drive Recap!

Ronald McDonald House Charities – They do so much more than you know!

Ronald McDonald House CharitiesBy Gina Stuelke, CEO of Kenton Brothers

Kenton Brother’s Kulture Club paid a visit to one of our long time clients recently, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), to learn more about partnering opportunities inside their houses. If you don’t know what RMHC does, here’s a bit more about their tremendous services:

The Mission

Ronald McDonald House CharitiesThe mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City (RMHC-KC) is to reduce the burden of childhood illness on sick children and their families by:

  • Providing comfortable lodging convenient to local health care facilities
  • Creating a caring and uplifting environment
  • Undertaking resource and fund development activities that support our facilities, programs, and services

Ronald McDonald House alleviates the worry and expense of finding a close, comfortable and affordable place for a family to stay while their child receives the medical care they need. That can make a world of difference to a child bravely battling an illness or recovering from a serious injury. It costs RMHC-KC $100 a night to house a family.

Ronald McDonald House Charities Ronald McDonald House Charities

Trenton Lee

Ronald McDonald House CharitiesWhile visiting RMHC, our team met an inspiring young man, Trenton Lee. Trenton is a renowned celebrity wig artist.

He collaborates with the Ronald McDonald House to create custom, high-quality wigs for children suffering from cancer and experiencing hair loss due to chemotherapy or other treatments. His work aims to boost the self-esteem and confidence in these young people, providing them with a sense of normalcy and comfort during a challenging time.

Trenton’s expertise and generosity has made a significant impact on the lives of many children and families supported by RMHC-KC. Trenton Lee has been featured on Access Hollywood, Yahoo Entertainment, Black Enterprise, Now This, Essence Magazine, Hype Hair Magazine, and one his biggest viral debuts The Steve Harvey Show back in October of 2018.

Check out these incredible examples of Trenton’s work!

Trenton Lee Photo Collage

Trenton Lee’s Goals

Trenton Lee’s goal by working with Ronald McDonald House and providing wigs to kids suffering from cancer is to:

  • Improve Self-Esteem: Help children feel more confident and comfortable in their appearance, boosting their self-esteem and confidence.
  • Enhance Quality of Life: Provide a sense of normalcy and comfort during a challenging time, allowing kids to focus on their treatment and recovery.
  • Reduce Stress: Alleviate some of the emotional distress associated with hair loss, allowing kids to feel more like themselves again.
  • Bring Joy: Put a smile on the faces of these brave children, providing a sense of hope and joy during a difficult time.
  • Support Families: Offer support and resources to families, helping them cope with the emotional and financial burdens of their child’s illness and lack of funds to be able to afford a custom wig piece!
  • Raise Awareness: Increase awareness about childhood cancer!
  • Make a Difference: Make a positive impact on the lives of children with cancer, leaving a lasting legacy of love, care, and compassion.

By achieving these goals, Trenton Lee to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children with cancer, inspiring hope, confidence, and resilience.

Congratulations Ronald McDonald House Charities and Trenton Lee! Thank you for what you are doing in Kansas City to change lives and give people hope!

Have you been to a Puppy PAW-ty???

We hosted our first Puppy PAW-ty recently at our office. Wayside Waifs brought in four adorable 8-week-old puppies!

Newhouse KC: Asking for help can be your greatest strength

By Gina Stuelke, CEO of Kenton Brothers

Newhouse: Imagine a Day GalaImagine a Day… when the cycle of domestic violence finally ends. A day when survivors no longer carry the trauma of abuse, but are healed in body, mind and spirit. Newhouse supporters make healing possible, and with everyone’s help, we won’t have to only imagine a day – we can live in a day without domestic violence.

Imagine a Day

Imagine a Day is Newhouse’s Annual Gala. The event raised over $1 million dollars this year! What a testament to the generosity and support of the KC community.

More than 1,300 guests gathered for dinner and auctions to raise awareness and critical funds to support the brave survivors served by Newhouse. These funds will play a crucial role in advancing Newhouse’s initiatives in education and community development around domestic violence, making a lasting impact on those in need.

Newhouse: Imagine a Day GalaCongratulations and thank you to Courtney Thomas and her team for a powerful and successful evening! (Kenton Brothers supports Newhouse at the annual gala as well as throughout the year.)

If you would like to learn more about Newhouse KC, please visit their website. And if you decide to get involved and support their efforts, you can make a donation here.

If you or anyone you know is experiencing domestic violence  . . . help is here.

Go to a safe place and call the Newhouse hotline. Advocates are on call 24/7 to speak with you.

Newhouse Hotline:
816-471-5800

National Hotline:
1-800-799-7233

Emergency Text Message:
911