Bruce Lovins
Bruce Lovins was born Nov 12, 1916, the son of John Lovins and Dorothy Mae Martin. He operated his saddle shop from his personal residence at 18 Thatcher Avenue in Alexandria, Kentucky, from the 1930's through the 1950's. Though he did make a few traditional “using” saddles, Lovins was best known for his fancy German and sterling silver parade saddles inspired by West Coast saddle makers of that period like Hollywood’s Edward H. Bohlin, and San Francisco’s Keystone Bros & Olsen-Nolte. Lovins most popular models were The Starfire, The Parader, The parade Chief, Starfire Supreme, Grand Champion, Parade King, Parade Triumph, Challenger Supreme, Challenger, Star Champion and Champion. He also made matching accessories for each parader model that included silver mounted gun rigs, boot heels and tips, belts, spur straps and a variety of fancy conchos. Although Lovins made several sterling silver models, the majority of his custom production were mounted with German Silver at a price point that competed effectively for the regional parader market with Indiana neighbor, Ted Flowers
Bruce died Oct 24, 1966 in Cincinnati and was buried in the Alexandria Cemetery.
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Marketed in Bruce Lovin’s early 1950s catalog with a $3,000 price tag (over $30k in today’s dollar equivalent), this imposing “Parade Chief” outfit is the “complete parade package” heavily adorned with silver Conchos and Indian heads, plus fully silvered swells, cantle, massive breast collar, extravagant serapes, tapaderos, and even a crouper (hip drops).
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Kentucky Post, Tuesday, 17 March 1936,
page 2
Bruce Lovins, 19 year old Newport High School student, has been
missing since yesterday morning, when he left home for school, his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. John Lovins, 10 E Southgate street, Newport, reported to police today.
An investigation has disclosed the youth failed to attend classes yesterday. His mother is seriously ill from grief. Mr. Lovins, Newport garage owner, told police. Mr. Lovins said he could give no reason why his son should leave home. The missing youth is 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighs 160 pounds, has blue eyes and brown hair and was wearing a corduroy suit, a cap and glasses.
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Kentucky Post, Thursday, 21 July 1938, page 1
The alertness of a Newport youth to a police radio broadcast brough the recovery of an auto stolen in Covington and the arrest of one of the alleged thieves. Last night Bruce Lovins was listening to the broadcast while his father, John Lovins, owner of the Lovins Auto Service Co. York and Southgate streets, was eating his evening meal. He heard the description and license number of a car stolen yesterday in Covington.
A short time later his father received a telephone call to pull an auto out of the mud two miles south of Dayton on the Mary Inglis Highway. Mr. Lovins and his son responding to the call with a wrecker, found two cars mired. Bruce noticed the car was the one described on the radio. Notifying his father of his, Mr. Lovins went to a nearby telephone and called Lt. Ray Sesher of the Dayton police. The Campbell County police were waiting fro the stolen auto when Mr. Lovins towed it back to Newport. The two youths were found with the stolen car.
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Kentucky Post, 8 January 1940, page 1
There will be six new Elks in Newport following Thursday night's initiation by the Newport Lodge of Elks. According to the lodge announcement, the candidates are Fred J Hindmarch, Bruce Lovins. Alfred Condiff, Albert Howe, Charles R Smith and George Harold Brown.
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Kentucky Post, Thursday, 23 June 1949, page 10
For Constable: Bruce Lovins, Sixth District, Republican.
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Kentucky Post, Wednesday, 29 June 1949, page 4
Full time devotion to the duties of constable are pledged by Bruce Lovins, Alexandria, in his formal announcement as a Republican candidate for constable in Campbell county's Fifth Magisterial District. Lovins has been active in Republican affairs for a number of years. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Lovins of Alexandria. Since his return from service during the last war, Lovins has made his home at 18 Thatcher avenue with his wife and two children. During the war he served with a See Bee unit attached to a Marine division in the Pacific theater.
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Kentucky Post, Monday, 8 August 1949, page 1
Constable-Fifth District: Harry Moreland, 305. Bruce Lovins, 119.
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Kentucky Post, Friday, 4 May 1956, page 10
Picture-At Holly Hill Show-Oakwood Chief Highlands, owned by Bruce Lovins of Alexandria, will appear at the Holly Hill Charity Horse Show set May 18-19 at Cold Spring. The parade horse with rider Jerry Max Meyers of Newport, has placed in several horse shows.
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Kentucky Post, Wednesday, 27 March 1957, page 6
Bruce Lovins, Alexandria, who never has claimed or sought any political position, it is a case of seeking to realize a childhood ambition to be sheriff of Campbell county. Now at the age of 40, Mr. Lovins is making his bid to gain his long sought goal.
"With seven or eight seeking the Republican nomination, I think it becomes an open race and I have decided to enter. All candidates running are among my best of friends and I know they will still be my friends, win, lose or draw. So I'm in the race." Mr. Lovins said. Lovins, associated with his parents Mr. and Mrs. John Lovins, in the garage business at 10th and Saratoga streets, Newport, said he believes his qualifications for the sheriff's post are "on a par with my fellow GOP candidates. I have a staff of well qualified men selected as deputies."
"One thing which stands out in my mind and apparently in the minds of every citizen is a more rigid enforcement of our traffic regulations. I will have uniformed deputies patrolling the highway." Lovins is a veteran of World War II, having enlisted in the Seabees. He served with a Marine detachment in the pacific. He is a member of James Wallace Costigan Post, American Legion, Newport and the Alexandria unit of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He lives on Thatcher avenue, Alexandria, with his wife, Juanita and their two children, Barbara and Ronnie.
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Kentucky Post, Monday, 12 March 1962, page 4
Miss Barbara Lovins, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Lovins, of Alexandria, was wed to Mr. Dale Schweitzer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Willard Schweitzer of Cold Spring, Feb 24 at 7:30 pm in the evening. The ceremony was performed in Christ Church, Ft Thomas.