The city of boots has refreshed its look with paint and repairs that are making it shine anew.

The City of Mercedes over the last 13 years has highlighted the city’s western heritage with 30 boots – each standing six feet tall – that are placed on street corners and major intersections. The boots bear the names of colleges and universities in Texas and the United States. The city’s big boots spark pride among alumni and admirers of universities such as UTRGV, Texas A&M and the University of Texas. 

The boots are out in the natural elements of weather with Valley heat, humidity, high winds and the occasional downpours taking their toll. Ten of the 30 boots were recently in most need of repair. Two of the 10 boots to be restored were perhaps the most prominent. The UT and A&M boots sit caddy-corner to each other on 2nd Street/Business 83 and those spots had been vacant in recent weeks.

Those two boots and eight others were in the shop of Viera’s Paint & Body Shop for about two months this fall as paint and repair work was done. The Mercedes-area business was selected by the city’s Economic Development Corporation board to make the necessary repairs and apply fresh coats of paint on the boots. The results were dazzling. By Nov. 1, Alejandro Viera was installing the 10 boots back to their familiar locations.

“It’s the city of boots, right?” Viera asked as traffic buzzed by on Texas Avenue as he put the boot of Texas Women’s University in place. “This is something I did for the community and people who live here.”

Connecting To History

It made sense in 2013 when the local EDC decided to play up Mercedes’ agricultural and western heritage in placing the outsized boots around town. 

The city is the longtime home of the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show and the history of boot-making in Mercedes goes back to 1929. It was in that era when Mexican bootmaker Zeferino Rios set up his first shop in the city. From there, Mercedes built a reputation for the finest work in handmade boots. The tradition of boot making became a calling card for the Mid-Valley city. Today, Rios of Mercedes makes and assembles boots that are made locally and sold around the country and the world.

“The boot is very symbolic of the heritage of the whole area and it has become the iconic symbol of Mercedes,” City Commissioner Ruben Saldana said. “It’s very fitting to have the boots represent the city.”

Viera is among the local residents who has seen the big boots in Mercedes for years without perhaps giving them much thought given their ubiquitous presence. Working on the boots at his shop has given him a stronger sense as to what they mean to Mercedes. Viera is accustomed to working on cars and trucks and says the boots project “was very different and interesting.”

He took out his cell phone in taking a break from installing the TWU boot and smiled in showing videos and photos from his shop with the 10 boots lined up and ready to take their rightful places in Mercedes. If anyone was wondering where the boots were, Viera said they would see them back and better than ever.

School Colors

The refreshed boots feature vivid colors, from the burnt orange of UT to the maroon and white of A&M, and the Mean Green of the University of North Texas. 

The boots representing Texas A&M-Kingsville and UT-San Antonio were also refreshed. Marcos Garcia, the president of the Mercedes EDC board, said refreshing the look of the boots serves a dual purpose.

“It not only allows for our community to continue that tradition, but it allows us as a city, to promote postsecondary education and remain true to the city’s rich history of being the boot capital of Texas,” he said.

Garcia says “las botas de Mercedes” have been an attraction for both residents and visitors and taking photos with them is a great way “to showcase their school pride.”

Resorting the 10 boots to join the 20 others around town reiterates the imagery and importance of the Western heritage to a city that revels in its livestock show and rodeos.

“It just puts a smile on your face,” Commissioner Saldana said of the connection of Mercedes to its boot-making history. “Boots and our heritage to agriculture are well-engraved into our community.”