About us

The whole story begins in Uvalde, Texas in 1883, where a
man by the name of A.M. Rice started A. M. Rice saddlery.

Meanwhile, George C. Slade was learning the trade of
saddle making from Tom Padgett Saddlery in Waco, Texas,
where he worked his way up to head saddle maker.
George's son, Will A. Slade, learned the trade under his
father at Padgett in Waco, until in 1929 Will decided to return
to Uvalde and bought A.M. Rice's saddle shop.

One of Will Slade's early customers was an old friend and
schoolmate by the name of Will Rogers. Other notable
characters to go down in the Slade hall of fame include
former governor Dolph Briscoe, General George Patton, and
Pancho Villa.

Also in 1929, Will Slade's daughter, Ruth, married Louis
Paradeaux; Louis worked in the saddle shop and passed the
trade down to his son, Will G. Paradeaux.
In 1982, Will Paradeaux sold his interest in the business to
join the ministry, but regained the shop after it went bankrupt
under the new management.

Today, he can be found working alongside
his son, Will Slade Paradeaux, at the Luling, Texas location.
Will Slade Paradeaux is the fifth generation of leather
craftsman and saddle maker for Slade Saddle Shop.