(1919 – 2010) Born in 1919, Bill Chappell grew up as a west Texas ranch hand and experienced all the hardships and joys known by cowboys of a passing era. His early range life and keen-eyed observation shaped his thinking and his art. Before the age of 10, Chappell was making clay sculptures, paintings and wood and leather carvings. His leather work expanded into saddlery, and he began making silver buckles and accessories. A cowboy is a multi-talented person. An artist, too, is versatile. Combine the two in the personage of Bill Chappell, and the result is authentic Western scenes captured on canvas and in bronze Bill Chappell’s wife, Fay, was always a constant inspiration for his work. After their marriage in 1939, Bill served in the Navy and was put in charge of occupational therapy using leather crafts. After the war he returned to Seymour, Texas, where he owned and operated a saddle and boot shop until 1953. It was during this time that one of his most outstanding works was done, a life-size leather carving of Will Rogers, which was shown in the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City for several years. It is now in the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma. Chappell’s leather carving and artistic skills were given special recognition when he was commissioned to make the first saddle for the World Champion Rodeo Cowgirl in 1951. Armed with only a 6th grade education, Bill continually read about and tried new things. He became an avid oil painter after moving to Colorado in 1953. In 1965, he sold his saddle shop to begin painting and creating bronzes full time. Both mediums found ready acceptance from collectors throughout the nation. After selling his saddle shop in 1965 to become a full-time artist, Bill and Fay divided their time between Colorado and Texas as Bill continued his work in art until his passing on September 22nd, 2010, at the age of 91.