Thaddeus “Tad” Mizwa

Tad Mizwa had always been both a cowboy and western artisan in spirit dating back to his childhood when he became so fascinated with trick roping that he taught himself how to do it. Working with leather at age 14 during WWII, Tad mastered carving and tooling leather using only a nail set and razor blade. At age 19, Mizwa traveled to Phoenix and was introduced to the renowned Porter Saddle shop where he met master leather carver, Ray Pohja who encouraged him to upgrade and refine his overall technique. Tad had a diverse array of jobs during his nine decades of life from journalist to saddle maker extraordinaire with miniature saddles as his specialty. He made three historically accurate replica saddles for permanent exhibition at the Witte Museum in San Antonio plus a Tournament of Roses Parade Saddle with over 600 pieces of sterling silver. Along with his treasured custom saddles, Tad created 52 exquisite miniature saddles. His last was a Mexican saddle completed in 2002, on display at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. Other than being 40% smaller in scale, his miniature addles are exact reproductions.




Thaddeus "Tad" S. Mizwa, born in Springfield, Massachusetts on July 4, 1927, and passed away on April 3, 2019 at the age of 91. Tad graduated from Amherst in 1949 with a Bachelor of Arts and then received a Master of Arts from Teachers College, Columbia University. He later became an accomplished trick roper and leather tooler. He studied under the best to become a world renowned saddle maker. Tad owned Tad's Saddlery And Western Wear in Highland Village in Houston from 1953-1962.+
Tad also served on many committees with the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Association. , all while starting up his saddle making again. He perfected historical life size and 40% scale miniature saddles commissioned by various museums in the U.S., including making full-size and miniature replicas of a conquistador, a vaquero and a trail riding saddle for the Witte Museum of San Antonio's exhibit, "Thundering Hooves-500 Years of Horsepower." That exhibit traveled all over the country.There, Tad continued to hand-craft 40% miniature saddles which found their way to collectors around the world and into the homes of many friends and family. His Tom Mix miniature saddle was part of The Story of Texas exhibit in the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, which opened in Austin, Texas in April, 2001. It was on display until May, 2004. Tad's work both in full size and 40% miniature saddles has appeared in six museum exhibits since 1993. After 60 years of perfecting his leatherworking craft, which included 52 miniature saddles, a stroke in 2003 abruptly ended his leatherworking for good. Yet Tad never complained. He continued writing western articles and mentoring up and coming leather craftsman.

Along with his treasured custom saddles, Tad created 52 exquisite miniature saddles. His last was a Mexican saddle completed in 2002, on display at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. Other than being 40% smaller in scale, his saddles are exact reproductions. Tad also co-authored A Lifetime with Boots, with impresario boot maker Sam Lucchese. (Houston: Cordovan, 1983)

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Tad Mizwa (b. 1927)
Tad Mizwa has always been both a cowboy and western artisan in spirit dating back to his childhood when he became so fascinated with trick roping that he taught himself how to do it. Working with leather at age 14 during the 2nd World War, Tad mastered carving and tooling leather using only a nail set and razor blade. At age 19, Mizwa traveled to Phoenix and was introduced to the renowned Porter Saddle shop where he met master leather carver, Ray Pohja who encouraged him to upgrade and refine his overall technique. Tad has had a diverse array of jobs during his eight decades of life from journalist to saddle maker extraordinaire with miniature saddles as his specialty. He has made three historically accurate replica saddles for permanent exhibition at the Witte Museum in San Antonio plus a Tournament of Roses Parade Saddle with over 600 pieces of sterling silver. Tad calls Leona, Texas (just north of Houston) home where he has lived since 1953.



84 year old Tad Mizwa has always been both a cowboy and western artisan in spirit dating back to his childhood when he became so fascinated with trick roping that he taught himself how to do it. Working with leather at age 14 during the 2nd World War, Tad mastered carving and tooling leather using only a nail set and razor blade. At age 19, Mizwa traveled to Phoenix and was introduced to the renowned Porter Saddle shop where he met master leather carver, Ray Pohja who encouraged him to refine his technique. Tad has had a diverse array of jobs during his eight decades of life from journalist to saddle maker extraordinaire with miniature saddles as his specialty. He has made three historical replica saddles for exhibition at the Witte Museum in San Antonio and a Tournament of Roses Parade Saddle with over 600 pieces of sterling silver. Tad calls Leona, Texas home where he has lived since 1953.

He says the high point in his career was making saddles for the Tournament of Roses Parade.
One of his saddles had 600 pieces of sterling silver and got $17,500 for it.

Tad calls Leona, Texas his home he's been there since 1953...

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