Footwear Insight

10 • Footwear Insight ~ May/June 2022 footwearinsight.com THE FOOTWEAR EYE By Erin Beck Maver I was walking the halls of "Wall Drug" in South Dakota when I got the call that my grandfather, Bill Beck, had passed away at the age of 92. My stomach sank and my heart ached at the realization that I'd never hear his voice again. My grandpa was a formidable man and challenged everyone he met to be their best. He was so integral to our family's story, and it felt impossible that we could go on without him. But he did something important before he le this world: he instilled the best bits of himself into the generations he le behind. One of his biggest messages was to be your best self. If all else failed and any mistakes were made, you'd know you did the best you could with who you were at the time. e second message: no excuses. Beck's started in the 19th year of the 20th century, at the hands of my great-grandfather, Ole P. Beck. He'd come to America from Denmark. It felt quite surreal to be wearing shoes from our modern Beck's store as I looked up my family surname on the records at Ellis Island. But there it was in print. And I saw with my whole heart how hard the journey must've been. I wonder what Ole would think today. I'm traveling the country and I'm taking my favorite shoes with me. My Ugg slippers walked the sand and grass of the Pacific Coast as I made pancakes for my kids, in and out of our RV and overlooking the Puget Sound. My Brooks walked the trails of Glacier, Zion, and Bryce Canyon, leaving me grateful and proud as I reported back to my online hiking groups that I had no blisters! My Olukai sandals were immersed in the warm waters of the gulf coast as I soaked up the beauty of the Florida panhandle. Beck's Shoes was making an imprint! And I began to think about how many more journeys other shoes from Beck's had made! I wonder, since 1919, how many shoes from our family store have trekked this great nation (and beyond!) and given freedom and comfort to their wearers? I imagine the butterfly effect in action: if a butterfly flap its wings the effect could be a hurricane across the world or a breeze on the river as the next Henry David oreau decides to find inspiration on a canoe. If we take our shoes-a -walking we have unlimited power to bring joy, authenticity, and inspiration to every person we meet! When I was a child I watched with awe as my dad, Dan Beck, and Uncle, Blaine Beck, led the family to pursue even greater endeavors. ey were blessed to have devoted wives who joined the business's efforts. And they watched with pride as their own children followed suit. Today, Beck's is led by my brother, Adam, and Cousin, Julia, who represent the fih generation of Beck's Shoes in the United States. And that doesn't even speak to the generations of Beck's who worked the shoe making and repair business in Denmark! My brother and cousin, along with many other family members, have continued to cultivate a workplace that serves the public, their employees, and our human family at large. e newest project they are heading, #DenverWest, is aiming to bring our family legacy to even more states and communities! I think Great-Grandpa Ole would be proud. I think my Grandpa Bill would be proud. Without a doubt, I am proud. Because Beck's isn't just a store. Beck's Shoes is an inspiration. We should all be inspired to find shoes that fit, find a journey to embark upon and find a way to leave the best bits of ourselves trailing behind us wherever we go. We should all be inspired to put our best foot forward, no excuses. n e author's great grandfather Ole P. Beck, founded Beck's Shoes in 1919. Still family run, Beck's Shoes continues to thrive and grow more than 100 years later. Beck's Shoes on the Move! LETTER Service through the years: A scene from Beck's Shoes in the 1950s. Bill Beck is at the far right.

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