Jim Linnell

Jim Linnell is a leather craftsman who has dedicated much of his life to the promotion of leather working as an art form.[1][2][3]

Jim Linnell working on a leather art commission for the Lonesome Dove Reunion.

Linnell was raised in southeastern Montana,[1] where he was first introduced to leather working in an industrial arts class in Junior High.[2] He enjoyed working with leather and began making small projects that he would sell to classmates at enough of a profit to buy a new tool or pattern. After high school, he worked at Boyd’s Boot and Saddle in Miles City, Montana[1] for several years, where he made custom leather goods and taught classes.[3]

Professional career

He began working for the Tandy Leather in 1978[1] and managed multiple stores with the chain during his career.[4] In 1983, Linnell was recognized with the salesman’s Victor Award by the Fort Worth Sales & Marketing Executives Association[5] for leading sales gains and profit improvements in the 275 store retail chain.

He went on to serve as the president of Joshua’s Christian bookstores in 1990,[4][6] where he served for 7 years before they were purchased by Family Christian Stores. Linnell went on to pursue several entrepreneurial efforts, including founding Texas Wholesale Leather and helping build Hide Crafters Leather with George Hurst.[4][7] He returned to Tandy Leather as Director of Operations in 2002.[8] He later served as the National Advertising Manager[9] for the brand, before retiring in April 2017.[7]

During his tenure at Tandy Leather, Linnell has dedicated much of his time to promoting leathercraft, having taught in 39 states, Europe, and England.[2] He also developed a 4-H leathercraft program in Puerto Rico in collaboration with their Department of Agriculture.[10] He also teaches a free annual class for youth at the Sheridan Leather show.[11][12]

In 2017, Linnell retired from Tandy Leather and started Elktracks Studio Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of leathercraft through teaching, both online and in workshops around the world.[7][13][3]

Awards and Achievements

Linnell spent 4 months creating a leather piece that was signed by the cast of the Lonesome Dove and auctioned for $28,000[2][3] at the Lonesome Dove Reunion Gala in Fort Worth, Texas. His efforts to help grow leathercraft have been recognized with the Al Stohlman Award for Achievement in Leathercraft in 2002,[2][4] the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Federation of Leather Guilds in 2006,[3] and the Academy of Western Artists’ Master Leather Artisan award in 2013.[3][14] In 2017, Linnell was commissioned by the AWA to create a leather portrait of Will Rogers for the cover of their annual awards show.[3] His work has also been featured on numerous catalog, magazine, and album covers over the last 20 years.[3][4]


References
  1. Allison, Amorette (19 May 2016). "The art of Leather working: Local man creates beautiful pieces of art". Miles City Star. Miles City, MT.
  2. Dunn, David (16 March 2016). "Lonesome Dove's Rawhide". Fort Worth Weekly. Fort Worth, TX. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  3. Fowler, Gene (March 2018). "Elktracks to Venus: Jim Linnell's Leather Art". ShopTalk! Magazine: 30–33.
  4. Reis, Bill; Reis, Dot (July 2002). "Jim Linnell Receives the 2002 Al Stohlman Award for Excellence in Leathercraft". The Leather Crafters & Saddlers Journal.
  5. Sheehan, Brenda (May–June 1983). "Victor Award Winners". Tandygram. Tandy Leather Corporation. 13 (3): 9.
  6. Chapman Stertzer, Carol (21 July 1993). "Growth Spurt at Joshua's Stores". Christian Retailing. Strang Publication.
  7. Magnus, Michael (July 2017). "Jim Linnell: Preserving the Knowledge of Leathercraft". Leathercrafter and Saddler's Journall. 27 (4): 16.
  8. "Leather Factory Hires Jim Linnell as Director of Operations for Tandy Leather" (Press release). Fort Worth, TX: Leather Factory, Inc. PR News Wire. 15 January 2002. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  9. Hintz, Stephanie (July 2016). "Extra, Extra! An industry pioneer lays a path of success for leather smiths, one hide at a time". Handmade Business. Jones Publishing Inc. 42 (483): 9.
  10. McCoy Smith (news anchor), Paige (16 June 2016). "Turning Leather Into Art". Good Morning Texas. Event occurs at 0900. ABC. WFAA8.
  11. Magnusson, Kristin (12 May 2016). "Leather crafters to descend on Sheridan". The Sheridan Press. Sheridan, Wyoming. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  12. "Kid's leather craft workshop to be held May 16". The Sheridan Press. Sheridan, Wyoming. 8 May 2015.
  13. "Elktracks Studio". Elktracks Studio. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  14. "Past AWA Winners". Academy of Western Artists. Retrieved June 21, 2016.


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