The Cowboy Boot Destiny of Texan Mark Candela
Ever since I was a little bitty kid,” says Texas bootmaker Mark Candela, “I’ve loved anything western.” Having recently notched his 59th year wherever he notches ‘em, the Houston native grew up in an era when Hollywood westerns ruled the TV waves and the silver screen.
“I had a Hopalong Cassidy watch,” he adds, “and I wore boots and hats all the time. I even have a photo of myself at one year old wearing a cowboy hat and boots.”
The artistic aspects of making cowboy boots, along with the great satisfaction of making something by hand, also influenced the former software consultant to switch careers in his early 40s. “I earned a degree in accounting and passed the CPA exam,” says Mark. “But I actually never practiced—instead I founded an accounting software firm.”
When the hankering to make cowboy boots became so
