The cowboy hat of the wild west has been part of our culture for centuries. That piece of western apparel was an essential item for those brave and daring people who pioneered the western United States, Australia, and South America. It provided protection from the sun, wind, snow and rain as well as providing a drinking vessel for the horse of the owner.

The characteristics of the wearer often determined his or her choice of style: high crown or low crown, wide brim or small. Gambler’s hat, leather hat, or felt. The band added additional character: buckles, leather, stars, rope, or snake-skin, maybe beads. The hat became a part of the person and the person part of the hat. It was more than just an article of clothing. It made a statement. You could recognize the person by his/her hat.

You would never steal a man’s hat, or would you?

On Saturday, Jan. 23, while attending Alinda Boyce Franklin’s memorial at the Best Western in Mariposa, my hat was stolen. Alinda was cousin Jack’s widow. My hat was a family heirloom handed down to me from my father. It was a wide brimmed, low crown red/brown felt hat, probably 5x beaver. The band was woven leather and even though the hat was close to 30 years old it looked like new. I took care of it. The lining has my name and phone number: Brian Wilhite (559) 683-2812.

What person would steal something as irreplaceable and as intrinsically valuable as a family heirloom hat at a memorial in honor of a beloved community member?

I would love to get my hat back.

Brian Wilhite