In 1990, Bill and I sold our retail tire and automotive repair shop to K-Mart so they could raze the building to make way
for their new expansion. We didn't know what the future held that day, so long ago; our youngest of three children
(Charil) was still in the "nest" and a high school senior. Bill said he knew one thing for sure; he wanted an
"adventure!" THAT is what he (we) got! After selling the equipment and completing the massive job of emptying out
the tire shop after 17 years of business, there was time to sort through things at home. In a small metal treasure
chest were his seven Tandy tools from Boy Scout Days, and the sight of them gave Bill a strange feeling of comfort -
said he wanted to learn more about "them."
for their new expansion. We didn't know what the future held that day, so long ago; our youngest of three children
(Charil) was still in the "nest" and a high school senior. Bill said he knew one thing for sure; he wanted an
"adventure!" THAT is what he (we) got! After selling the equipment and completing the massive job of emptying out
the tire shop after 17 years of business, there was time to sort through things at home. In a small metal treasure
chest were his seven Tandy tools from Boy Scout Days, and the sight of them gave Bill a strange feeling of comfort -
said he wanted to learn more about "them."
Learn he did. We attended the Mid-States Jamboree leather guild show in North Chicago, March 1990 where that
night at the show's banquet the former leather magazine announced its demise. Long story short, we purchased the
copyrights - having NO previous knowledge of publishing - and began this "ADVENTURE." The first issue of the new
The Leather Crafters Journal came off the press in December 1990, and was mailed in early January 1991. In March
1994, we added saddlery, renaming it The Leather Crafters and Saddlers Journal. This opened up a whole new
extension to the art of leatherwork.
night at the show's banquet the former leather magazine announced its demise. Long story short, we purchased the
copyrights - having NO previous knowledge of publishing - and began this "ADVENTURE." The first issue of the new
The Leather Crafters Journal came off the press in December 1990, and was mailed in early January 1991. In March
1994, we added saddlery, renaming it The Leather Crafters and Saddlers Journal. This opened up a whole new
extension to the art of leatherwork.
Also in 1994, The Journal held its first leatherworkers trade show in May - the first one being held in Sheridan,
Wyoming. (Who can ever forget the second Sheridan show in 1995 with the snowstorm giving birth to the saying, "I
survived the blizzard of '95"?) These shows have been held in eight cities, both east of the Mississippi and west,
totaling to date (2008), 33 shows!
Wyoming. (Who can ever forget the second Sheridan show in 1995 with the snowstorm giving birth to the saying, "I
survived the blizzard of '95"?) These shows have been held in eight cities, both east of the Mississippi and west,
totaling to date (2008), 33 shows!
Time marches on and Bill has retired from "active service" - but still enjoys offering how-to "know how" when asked
because of his leatherworking knowledge. David Reis is in the Advertiser Manager's chair; I wear different hats as
the company's President and Bookkeeper, while Brian Stelzel and Donna Edlund keep the Circulation Department
running at full speed with help from our two "part-time, part-time" gals, Bev and Peg. Our son, Billy, keeps the
website updated - all the way from his home in Ketchum, Idaho - what technology we live in these days! We're ready
for the future!
because of his leatherworking knowledge. David Reis is in the Advertiser Manager's chair; I wear different hats as
the company's President and Bookkeeper, while Brian Stelzel and Donna Edlund keep the Circulation Department
running at full speed with help from our two "part-time, part-time" gals, Bev and Peg. Our son, Billy, keeps the
website updated - all the way from his home in Ketchum, Idaho - what technology we live in these days! We're ready
for the future!
As you peruse this website, we trust you will enjoy learning, reading and finding what is avaliable for your
leatherworking needs. Much has transpired since that eventful, life-changing evening in North Chicago. It has and is
STILL an exciting adventure as we continually add new content by way of our faithful advertisers and writers. This, in
turn, causes our subscriber "family" to grow from all around the world.
leatherworking needs. Much has transpired since that eventful, life-changing evening in North Chicago. It has and is
STILL an exciting adventure as we continually add new content by way of our faithful advertisers and writers. This, in
turn, causes our subscriber "family" to grow from all around the world.
As Bill always signed his editorials, "Leather is Better" - can't argue with that!!
| PASS IN REVIEW or... FROM SEVEN LITTLE TOOLS by Dot Reis |
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| A NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER... |
| William R. Reis, Co-Owner of The Leather Crafters & Saddlers Journal March 19, 1937 - May 12, 2010 |
| William R. Reis, beloved husband of Dorothea (Dot) Reis, died at age 73 on May 12, 2010, at his home in Rhinelander, WI. He was born on March, 19, 1937 in Chicago, IL to Helen Bert. Bill attended schools in the Chicago area, graduating from high school in Arlington Heights in 1955. He then enlisted in the US Army and served 5 years. Upon his honorable discharge he was employed by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. It was during this time that Bill met and then married Dorothea "Dot" Schulze on November 11, 1961. Bill continued with Goodyear and he moved to Milwaukee with the company in 1963. Then in 1973 he and his family moved to Rhinelander where he owned and operated Reis Tire Service until 1989. It was in 1991 that Bill rediscovered his passion for leathercraft and began publishing The Leather Crafters & Saddlers Journal with his wife. In 2004, Bill was presented with the Al Stohlman award for Achievement in Leathercraft. Bill retired from journalism and his family continues his legacy with The Journal to this day. Bill loved leathercrafting, model trains and landscaping. He also had an affection for boating, having owned a 42-foot boat on the Great Lakes. Bill is survived by his wife Dorothea "Dot" Reis of Rhinelander, his daughter Charil Reis of Rhinelander, his two sons David(Rachel)Reis of Rhinelander and William Reis of Sun Valley, Idaho, his granddaughter Emma Mankus, his half-sister Toni and his two half-brothers Todd and Kim, and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 15th, 2010 at 10:00 AM at the Carlson Funeral Home with Pastor Patrick Griffiths officiating. Visitation will be from 4-7 PM on Friday, May 14th, 2010 and Saturday, just prior to the services, all at the Carlson Funeral Home. Interment will be in the Northland Memorial Park Cemetery. The Carlson Funeral Home (715-369-1414/www.carlsonfh.com) is handling the arrangements for the Reis family. Bill's enthusiasm and enduring drive to publish The Journal will be forever remembered as the cornerstone of our existence. Bill would like to share the following words; it is a letter he wrote upon his diagnosis on April 23, 2010, of terminal cancer. |
| MAY 2010 Greetings & Salutations from Bill Reis |
| “It has been my most distinguished pleasure to have known you. We have become friends across America, Canada and around the world mainly all in the interest of leatherwork and, yes… I remember well so many of those warm handshakes of yesteryear. It’s been a privilege to bring about a network of companies and leatherworkers. It has been a long journey. My faith basically centers on the 3rd chapter of Ephesians. I believe these things with all my heart and shall not be deterred. Soon I will be leaving my Bible and be greeted by my Savior.” The following is included so that you would know what he was thinking and hoping for in the coming days. However, because the cancer advanced faster than anticipated, this wish of Bill's could not be realized. “I would so enjoy receiving you for a visit should you ever get to Wisconsin and our town of Rhinelander.” |
"It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."
| Lamentations 3:22 & 23 |
