Our DV'49er 'BOTP' Hat
1956       50 year Death Valley '49ers Tradition       2006

 
     Traditionally the subject of the annual Cloisonné Pin
     is chosen  by the Death Valley '49ers President.

     My choice for the 2006 Encampment was the “Boss of the Plains” Stetson Hat.

     Henry Stetson, son of John B. Stetson, was involved with the Death Valley ‘49ers for over 25 years. He supported and contributed in many ways to the Death Valley ‘49ers Organization in our early years. One of his contributions was commissioning the John B. Stetson Hat Co. to revive for the ‘49ers, the famed ‘Boss of the Plains’ hat, an original design initiated by his father over a hundred and twenty years ago. The ‘Boss of the Plains’ design has not been available from the Stetson Hat Co. for many years now, and the hats you see being worn by many ‘49ers today have been passed down by Directors who are no longer with us.
 

     This years Cloisonné Pin has been designed by Death Valley ‘49er Advisor Jean Pickard. Jean has done a wonderful job and we  hope you enjoy the 2006 ‘Boss of the Plains’ Hat, Cloisonné.

     Please, come on down to Death Valley November 8th through 12th, purchase yourself a membership and proudly wear your Membership Badge every day to all the events you attend. Show your support and most of all, enjoy your 57th Annual Death Valley ‘49ers Encampment.

G. HENRY STETSON, 1887 - 1983

     Henry Stetson, son of John Stetson, was involved with the Death Valley '49ers for over 25 years. When in Death Valley, he always stayed at Stovepipe Wells Hotel. Peg Lewis, '49er Past President, Life Director, and owner of Stovepipe Wells Village, remembers how Henry would show up at every Encampment dressed in his beautiful, tailored western clothes, sporting two holstered engraved pistols. For many years, Henry Stetson stood tall and poised in the ring as Official Starter at the Burro Flapjack Contest, where he fired one of those fancy pistols to signal the start of another Burro Race. The winner received a special Stetson Hat presented by Henry.
     Henry not only gave the '49ers strong support in our formative years but he also made another contribution by commissioning the Boss of the Plains hat, an original design initiated by his father a 120 years ago. Today almost every Director and Advisor can be seen wearing this distinctive hat.

1966 - Directors
& Past Presidents

Notice
Henry Stetson setting next to
Death Valley '49er President
Hazel Henderson and they are
all wearing their Boss Of The Plains hats

Notice
most of the DV'49er Directors
and Past Presidents are wearing
their Death Valley '49ers
Boss Of The Plains hats
 

This advertisement for John B. Stetson's
Boss Of The Plains Hat
appeared in the Sears, Roebuck & Company
Catalogue No. 110, Fall 1900

Matt Ryan
wearing his BOTP

Notice that 16 out of the 18
are wearing their BOTP Hats

Not only do the Death Valley '49ers keep the history of the 1849ers trek through Death Valley alive, they also take great pride in keeping the history of the Original Cowboy Hat alive.
           
John B. Stetson's, 'Boss Of The Plains'