The King's Cowboy Hats

I'm sure Legend, TMC and many others know this, but I just learned last night that I once lived almost around the corner from a true landmark - a place that deserves National Historic Landmark status.

When I was Motorsports Coordinator for Southland Corporation's 7-Eleven/CITGO/Chief Auto Parts brands in 1984-1986, I was based at corporate headquarters on Central Expressway, just outside of downtown Dallas, Texas.

However, we lived 19 miles from my office in the small city of Garland, Texas, next door to Richardson, Texas.

While watching a television piece on Richard Petty last night, the scene suddenly switched to my one-time place of residence in Texas. On the screen was Richard Petty, touring the Charlie 1 Horse Hat Company in Garland. Turns out these unique cowboy hats in a variety of colors and decorations ( no two have ever been the same ) have been custom made for "The King" by Charlie 1 Horse Hat Company in Garland for over 30 years.

Never knew there was anything famous about the place I was living and I couldn't wait to leave and return to the Carolinas/Virginia. Live and learn!

Maybe Tim will let me try on one of his for you when all three of us make it to the same RR event!

Actually, I'm not a cowboy hat person. They tried to make me wear one twice at Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association events when I was representing Wrangler in Greensboro, NC and 7-Eleven in Wichita, Kansas. I declined, which didn't ingratiate me with the cowboy crowd.

I could tolerate the western shirts, cowboy cut jeans and western boots (barely), but not the cowboy hat.

However, I think both Richard and Legend look terrific in theirs!

Saw the segment last night & thought it was very cool. Interesting to see the devotion and attention to detail by the woman who makes The King's hats. And she'd never met him - until they brought him in for that segment.

That was a great piece of television when Richard walked up on her after she'd made his hats for so many years. I really enjoyed that, too.

Here is the video from Speed's RaceHub

Thanks for finding & posting.

Richard started wearing what is now his iconic cowboy hats around 1979 or 1980 when Kyle & Pattie opened Kyle Petty's Boot Barn. Others like Cale and Earnhardt tried the cowboy look too - but they simply couldn't pull off the coolness of The King.

And he tried to pull off the look about a decade earlier ... but without quite the same cool look. Maybe it was that Ford patch instead of Plymouth one that hurt him.

(Photo from RR's Jerry Bushmire's collection.)

Yeah.... it was the Ford patch, lol! What wouldn't we all give to one day, just one more time, see a car come off pit road with "Plymouth by Petty" lettered on its quarter panel?

I think Smokey gave that hat to Richard!

from a CMT interview with Richard:

What was the inspiration for your signature cowboy hat?

Long answer. The basic deal was that Kyle used to have what he called the Kyle Petty Boot Barn, and they sold hats and cowboy boots. I'd already been into the boot business, and so he convinced me to try a cowboy hat. That worked out real good because I could wear the cowboy hat, and you know everybody's got sponsor hats, and you always wound up having the wrong sponsor hat on when you were talking to somebody. So the cowboy hat solved that problem.

In July or August of 2008, my dad and I traveled up to Level Cross to get the flagstand from Lakewood Speedway. Lakewood was where hesupposedly got his first win until Lee took it away from him in 1959, so when he retired and had the party at the GA dome in 1992, the owner of Lakewood Park restored the flagstand and gave it to Richard. Anyway, August of 2008 was the first year of the Lakewood Reunion at the GRHOF and Richard donated it to us. When he got their we pulled up to the front office with our truck and trailer. Then as we got out, a guy on a forklift came around with a whole crew of guys to help us load the stand on our trailer. When the man on the forklift jumped down, I asked him if Richard was around (since we had heard that he showed up on Tuesday and Wednesdays usually) and as I said that, he turned around and pointed to an all black Chrylser 300 with acustomized license plate, which I won't tell. He parked next to our truck (Thank God it was a Dodge!) and he kicked open the door, pulled his lanky-self out, spit some tobacco, and said "Man, I guess I can't even get my own parking spot anymore". I was right there to meet him. We introduced our selves (There was also another GRHOF volunteer with us) and when we got done introducing our selves, he replied with "Well my name's Richard, and I used to drive a race car" He signed a picture, my autograph (which I told him he could have an entire page!) and 1/64 car set of his 7 championship cars with a Petty Hauler. Then he invited me into the main office to look at some pictures. After I went to the bathroom, I went back outside to sit on the bench and watch the guys load the big flagstand on our trailer. (Note that this flagstand stands probably 20 ft high.) And as I was sitting down, out walked Richard with an arm-full of hats. There was atleast 8 or 10 in his stack. He put them on his car, while he opened the door, then threw them in, just tossed them in. I was actually thinking about asking where I could get one, hoping I would get one, but I chickened out! lol. So after it was all said and done, he let us look in his car shop, which is more full now where they build all of the challengers and mustangs and restore and what-not, but this was about 3 months after the move to Mooresville and all was in there were a couple of old cars, one or two Plymouths, two Morris Minors and a couple of custom golf carts. Then his restored 57' Olds convertible race car came in on a wrecker which was REALLY cool!

Then before we left, he gave us directions to his museum where the ladies up front let us in for free after we explained what we were hauling! And as I'm sure most of ya'll know, there are tons of stuff in there including tons of hats, There was even a silver hat given to Richard by Winston.

I would love a hat by the people who make his, but judging by the video at $600, I don't think it'll be even after I graduate!!!!

-Cody

Great story, Cody!

As pictures on my page here will certify, I was wearing the cowboy hats as early as 1964. I'm not saying that Richard wears them because I did but I will say I have some of my really old ones, which include the demin type which is what Richard wore early 70s. I have a picture to prove that as well. I'm not trying to take credit here. Just saying all those folks who want to blast me as being a "Richard Petty Wannabee" should look at the overall picture. After all, Jeff and I both know that The King is a fan of The Legend. Certified. I was even wearing the sunglasses in the late 50s, or, as someone told me awhile back, he couldn't remember when I didn't wear sunglasses. As I have stated publicly many times, I have NO issue with Richard imitating my style. In fact, I am honored!

How many 'Petty Style' hats do you have Legend?

Cody, I have seven "Petty Style" hats. Two are actually Charlie 1Horse and one of those two is actually a Charlie 1 Horse "King" hat. Now, I need you to call Richard and ask him how many "Legend Style" hats he has! Fair is fair, after all.

It sure is, you hook me up with him, and I'll ask him whatever you want!