About Us and Our Company

The Clearwater Hat Company is owned and operated by Bob and Kay Burton. We are located in a beautiful valley in the Ozark Mountains about eleven miles west of Mountain View (north central), Arkansas, and forty-five miles from the nearest stoplight.

The company was originally started in 1988 by Vaughn R. Brewer and his wife Kay. Vaughn had been interested in folklore, muzzleloading, archeology, living history, photography, politics, and storytelling for a number of years.

In the late 1980's Vaughn and Kay were the recipients of several grants from the National Endowment of the Arts to collect folklore in and around Stone County, Arkansas. The result was an extraordinary collection of photographs and oral interpretations unique to the Ozark mountains. This material may soon form the basis for another web site.

In 1991 Vaughn passed away doing what he loved best, making hats at a living history event. The burden of running the company then fell to Kay who was pursuing a career as a sixth grade teacher. Trying to juggle these responsibilities proved difficult, but not insurmountable.

Bob and Kay when we were younger

In 1992 Kay and Bob Burton met at a living history event held on Kay's farm on Roasting Ear Creek. It wasn't long before Bob was making hats and traveling to historical shows with Kay, and the company experienced a revitalization.

Bob had pursued a highly successful career as a hospital administrator and he has a gift for knowing what customers want. During his eighteen years as an administrator, Bob has been awarded a number of honors including: Emerging Leader Award from The Health Care Forum, Hospital Turnaround of the Year from Hospitals Magazine, Gold Awards in four categories from the Academy for Health Services Marketing, The Strategy Award from the Society for Healthcare Planning and Marketing, Who's Who Worldwide, and was commissioned an Honorary Kentucky Colonel by the Governor of Kentucky.

Kay has also won her share of accolades, with numerous awards and grants, including the National Endowment for the Arts and the prestigious Who's Who Among America's Teachers. She retired from teaching in 1996 after 25 years to pursue full-time employment at Clearwater Hats.

We believe in offering a quality product, giving exemplary service, and in giving people a good value for their money. We believe in the Christian value of treating others the way we would like to be treated. We believe our faith has sustained and rewarded us.We feel truly blessed with a solid business, great customers and a wonderful family!

All original material copyright©1998 Clearwater Hat Company