Billy Cook's Story
In 1953, a young Billy Cook first opened his own saddle shop in Greenville, TX. That year he built seventy-five saddles. Over the next few years, Billy’s business kept growing, and in order to keep up with demand he partnered with Potts-Longhorn and production was scaled to 1,200 saddles a year by the end of the 1950s.
Then as now, every saddle made under the purview of Billy Cook was stamped with a “Billy Cook Maker” makers mark. These saddles are meticulously hand tooled on sturdy saddle trees, and production was never allowed to exceed a volume which could not be inspected by him personally as the manager of production. Billy Cook’s saddles have always been intended to be an icon of affordable quality craftsmanship and functionality desired by the majority of horsemen and women.
During the 1980’s, Potts-Longhorn had financial trouble coinciding with the recession that hit the United States. Ultimately, that company failed and was foreclosed on by the bank, and Billy Cook went on to start his own operation once again. In 1988, Billy Cook incorporated as Billy Cook Harness & Saddle Manufacturing, Inc. in Texas. Shortly thereafter, he moved his saddlemaking operation to Sulphur, Oklahoma where it remains today.
Over the years Billy Cook’s team was cemented by two key players in the shop that produces our fine saddles. Jody Ramer, a native of Sulphur, OK began working alongside Billy in 1991. First learning the craft of saddlemaking. In 2018 Jody began personally managing the production of the saddles to ensure the integrity and quality of the product was maintained as Billy aged. Rutilo Osornio, a leather artisan with the mechanical skills necessary to maintain the sewing and cutting equipment used to make saddles, began working with Billy in 1979. Rutilo began directly overseeing the production of bridles, breast collars, and other tack and accessories under Billy in 1992.
Billy Cook passed on in October of 2019. But Jody and Rutilo continue to operate the shop and personally supervise the production of all of the Genuine Billy Cook products in the same fashion as Billy taught them. Together with their staff, Jody and Rutilo perpetuate the heritage of Billy Cook. America’s most prolific saddlemaker and one of the finest leather toolers the world has ever known.
Billy Cook Harness & Saddle Manufacturing, Inc. is dedicated to making the products the cowboys, cowgirls, horsemen and women need to engage in the work in the equestrian industry. The Billy Cook Maker’s Mark stands alone as a symbol of fine artisanry and durable quality.
It was in 1991 that Billy Cook filed a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the makers mark that is legally incontestable and still adorns every quality product that leaves the shop: BILLY COOK MAKER U.S.A. GENUINE SULPHUR, OK
It is interesting to note that when Potts-Longhorn went out of business a bank had foreclosed its assets and resold them to the Action Company in 1990. Included with those assets were the “general intangibles” including a reference to the name “Billy Cook Saddlery” which had been used in marketing materials when Billy was working at Potts-Longhorn. Billy disputed every giving or selling to Potts-Longhorn the rights to this name.
Nonetheless, the Action Company conglomerate built a line of “Billy Cook Saddlery” products and attacked Billy Cook for the use of his own name, attempting to bully him into abandoning his makers mark despite the valid trademark he possessed. Billy refused to give in. But, for a lack of financial resources to arm himself with lawyers and fight back against the massive Action Company conglomerate, Billy was unable to force them to quit using his name.
Thereafter for nearly thirty years, there was confusion in the market due to the existence of two lines of saddles and horse tack marketed with Billy’s name. Our handmade high-quality products proudly stamped “Billy Cook Maker USA Genuine Sulphur, OK” and the inferior and mass produced “Billy Cook Saddlery Greenville, TX” line. Remember, when something is labeled “Billy Cook” if its not a “Maker” it’s a “Faker!”
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Help Us Get Back in the Saddle
On Saturday, April 27, 2024, a devastating tornado ripped through Sulphur, OK. Sadly, the factory, warehouse and office buildings of Genuine Billy Cook Saddles were completely destroyed by the storm. Amongst the rubble lay decades of historic business assets, materials, equipment, and inventory. We at Genuine Billy Cook Saddles are devastated by the tornado that hit our community in Sulphur. We are grateful to the Lord for ensuring the safety of all of our personnel. Unfortunately, not everyone in our community was as lucky. It will take us time to rebuild. Our infrastructure was completely lost. Our inventory destroyed. Our history scattered and soaked. We will appreciate your support and your patience as our historic business rises from the rubble. We will update you periodically here on our progress. We ask for you to join us in praying for the lost, injured, homeless and jobless. Stay Strong – Sulphur Oklahoma. Genuine Billy Cook has been in business since 1953, and has proudly been an active part of the Sulphur community since 1991. If you would like to support our rebuilding efforts, you can pre-order any of our custom-made products. Be aware that we expect a delay of up to 60 days but perhaps a little longer as we rebuild our factory, equipment, and supplies. Please be patient as we work to rebuild. Thank you for supporting local small business!
Billy Cook's Story
The Story of Billy Cook Back in the 1950s, a man named Billy Cook set out to do one thing better than anyone else — build saddles that could ride as hard as the cowboys who used them. From a small shop in Greenville, Texas, Billy poured his heart, hands, and heritage into every stitch. Word spread fast across the open range: if you wanted a saddle that felt like it was made just for you, you wanted a Billy Cook. Decades later, the spirit of those early days still lives on. Every saddle, every piece of gear, still carries the grit, pride, and craftsmanship that Billy himself set in motion. When you ride with Billy Cook, you’re not just riding — you’re carrying a piece of the West with you.