Weldon's
Wilkinson's
Family Legacy Since 1957
The Weldon's & Wilkinson's Legacy
Clint Wilkinson grew up amidst leather and tradition—his grandfather, Weldon Burgoon,
owner and operator of Weldon’s Saddle Shop & Western Wear in Denton, TX, bartered
a saddle to settle up his grandson’s hospital bill. Burgoon was raised on a farm in
Denton, where he revered all things cowboy and where he first began working with
leather. By the time he graduated from high school in 1947, he was making purses,
belts, wallets, and saddles. He opened Weldon’s in 1957, and it quickly became a
beloved North Texas institution.
Clint spent his childhood under the saddle shop’s dusty lights, listening to stories,
learning seamwork, and discovering the scent of old leather—an atmosphere he now
carries forward through his craft. As a sixth-generation Texan, his roots in craftsmanship
run deep. He learned the basics of leather craft at a very early age through the
hands-on tasks given him by his grandfather, like cleaning saddles for customers and
using hand tools on pieces of leather; but perhaps the most important skills he learned
from his grandfather were customer service and conversation. Treat people with respect
and kindness, and they’ll feel like family.
Clint didn’t step into the family business immediately. He pursued a different creative
path—thriving in the motocross industry, digital media, and design. These pursuits
brought him success, but left him restless. Then, in 2013, his path came full circle when
he returned to his grandfather’s workbench. Working with leather is, in Clint’s words,
“like a zen type of experience,” and it reconnected him with the traditions that shaped
his family and his identity.
Clint’s return home sparked something deeper—he decided to launch his own brand,
Bell & Oak, named after the corner of Bell St. and East Oak where the family shop
stood. From there, his journey evolved into Wilkinson’s Fine Goods, and later, his
namesake Clint Wilkinson label—an intentional move to center legacy, craft, and the
man behind it all.
In 2017, after 60 years of business, Weldon’s Saddle Shop & Western Wear closed its
doors. Weldon Burgoon passed away a year later. During his lifetime, Burgoon was
inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame, the National Bit & Spur
Association Hall of Fame, and received recognition by the Texas House of
Representatives. He rode off into the sunset as a true Texas legend.
Working in the same corner his grandfather once occupied, Clint’s techniques honor
traditional craftsmanship—he uses Japanese-made tools, French thread, European and
American leathers, and he hand sews nearly every piece himself. His work has been
featured in numerous publications and has included everything from commissions by
Post Malone and Leon Bridges to collections for institutions like the George W. Bush
Presidential Library.
But craftsmanship isn’t the whole story. Clint describes running the family legacy as a
calling, one where he aims to be “one of the best craftsmen in America,” grounded in
Denton and true to his roots (We Denton Do It, D Magazine). Even as he
innovates—like developing the more accessible Bell & Oak line, manufactured in Texas
under his guidance and design—the underlying priority remains the same: legacy,
quality, and integrity.
To keep the spirit of Weldon’s alive, the Wilkinson’s Fine Goods storefront is located
inside Weldon Burgoon’s original saddle shop in downtown Denton, TX. Wilkinson’s has
partnered with some of the finest artisans and brands to house their work under one
roof. Wilkinson’s represents more than fine leather goods. It embodies the spirit of
Western heritage elevated through timeless design—pieces made to be carried, lived in,
and passed down for generations. Come share in the legacy.
