The Whistle Special

[Uncle Vern]

I was walking across a parking lot in Austin the other day when a skinny old Texan walked by wearing a very cool old cowboy hat, wide-brimmed and low-crowned, with a generous ribbon and a bound edge. I said "Nice hat ya' got there." He shot back "Ya' like it? Gimme ten bucks and it's yours." So I did. I felt funny about it at first, because he looked like he wasn't doing too well. I offered to give him ten bucks and let him keep the hat, but he wouldn't hear of it. So I gave him twenty.
This hat is a "Whistle Special," named after the gandson of a well-known Fort Worth family named Ryon that sold western wear. Grandpa was called "Windy," his son was "Little Windy," and Windy's kid was "whistle." The Ryons all over the web, mostly in regards to cutting horse competions.
I thought I'd post the hat for the sake of the story, but I should describe it--4-inch brim, 5-inch crown, no liner, lots of moth holes under the brim, very nice felt fur. I called Ryon's in Forth Worth. They all the "Whistle Special," and guessed it was pretty old.

 

[Bull Moose]

Thats a cool story, and a very nice hat.

 

[dhermann1]

Sounds like the opening scene of a ghost story! If you see that guys face in some 1870's history of the Texas Rangers, don't be surprised! However, that is a truly phenomenal lid. A real Texas hat.

 

[KY Gentleman]

I like the story behind that hat, and the hat ain't bad either! I hope you get a lot of joy out of both (the story and the hat).

 

[Mike in Seattle]

What a great story to go along with a great hat! It makes the hat all the more a treasure.

 

[Jfala]

Great story, and hat by the way.

 

[DanielJones]

Cool story & nifty hat!:eusa_clap

Cheers!

Dan

 

[RBH]

Great Texas tale and even greater Texas hat! :eusa_clap