Western outfitter turns 100 in Steamboat.

• Author: Taylor, Mike

F.M. Light & Sons has been selling Western wear in Steamboat Springs since 1905. It started out selling suits as well as ranch wear, weathered the Great Depression, and caught an upswing in Western-wear demand when the movie "Urban Cowboy" came out in 1980.

"Western wear is somewhat cyclical," says store owner Ty Lockhart. "During the 'Urban Cowboy' days, Western was very hot. It was in fashion, then it went out of fashion. Now we're starting to see a resurgence in Western boots, on the ladies' side particularly."

Lockhart, 58, took over management of the store in 1973 and is the fourth-generation owner. His son Brandon also works in the store, giving the enterprise five generations of family involvement.

The store sits at 830 Lincoln Ave. in Steamboat, exactly where founder Frank M. Light built it 100 years ago after he arrived in Steamboat from Ohio with his wife and seven children--switching from train travel to stagecoach the last leg of the journey.

Motorists on their way to Steamboat are reminded about 60 miles from town on U.S. Highway 40 that F.M. Light & Sons might be something to check out. That's where the first of 100 "F.M. Light & Sons" signs begin appearing, and they keep appearing all the way into town.

The signs say things like, "Use your head while buying a hat--F.M. Light & Sons," or "F.M. Light & Sons: In business since 1905."

"We're famous for those signs," Lockhart says.

But at one point those signs almost went the way of the dodo bird--or make that the...