"Papa Jack" Weil, 1901-2008
Denver legend “Papa Jack” Weil was to Western shirts what Henry Ford was to cars. He became famous for originating the Western shirt, an American fashion he popularized across the world. His sawtooth pocket and diamond snap design is the longest running shirt style in America.
He founded Rockmount Ranch Wear in Denver in 1946 and remained active in the business for 62 years, becoming at 107 years old the oldest working
CEO in America.
His shirts have been worn by everyone from Elvis to Bob Dylan. Ronald Reagan wore them in the 1950s and today fans of the snap button Rockmount shirt include Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Robert Redford, Tom Hanks and Nicolas Cage. Over the years, tens of thousands of people stopped in Rockmount Ranch Wear to meet “Papa Jack,” who greeted everyone -- from rock stars to residents -- with sparkling eyes and the same friendly question, “Where you from?”
It was “Papa Jack” who coined the phrase, the “The West is not a place, it’s a state of mind.”
In his later years, “Papa Jack” became a Denver icon and a focal point of the city’s tourism advertising campaign.
This short video commemorates “Papa Jack’s” 107th birthday party in April 2008.
Check out some of "Papa Jack's"
107th birthday party...
For more information on "Papa Jack" and Rockmount Ranch Wear, visit www.rockmount.com.