Roger’s research and interest has led him to all corners of Wyoming in scholastic research on their heritage of Cowboy stock saddles from the period between 1860 and 1930. For his masters thesis he studied these stock saddles, their migratory process, and their makers. It is the information he gained from this is what he applies to the saddles he creates along with the pride of continual improvement in both quality of craftsmanship and historical accuracy. He followed their evolution up from Old Mexico, through Texas (with the development of the Sam Stagg rigging), through Pueblo and Denver, Colorado to Cheyenne, Wyoming along one route, and from Old Mexico, through California, Oregon, Idaho to Montana and Sheridan, Wyoming where there was a blending of the styles. From Texas came the double rig and from California came the single rig, and in Montana/Sheridan developed the 3/4 rig and the wider swells. It is this commitment to ongoing research that makes Deseret Saddlery saddles perfect for reenactments, historical enthusiasts, and motion pictures. Indeed, it was Roger’s participation in making these motion pictures that led to the research and making of these historic saddles. He has photographed scores of saddles at museums such as Wyoming State Museum and Nelson Museum in Cheyenne, Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody and Kings Rope Museum in Sheridan. Much of his success is due to their professionalism and kindness.

     There has already been much written on the giants of the plains style saddle, such as E. L. Gallatin, Frank Meanea and the Collins Brothers, but not much else has been written biographically about many of the others. It was many of these lost makers that Roger sought to include in his research to preserve the information for generations to come. One of the lesser known makers in the Buffalo area was Percy A. Wilkerson. He was born n Illinois in 1871 and from 1885-1930s he lived in buffalo and Gillette where he made his saddles. By 1919 he had opened a soft drink parlor and in 1920 was purchasing boot-leg liquor and selling it through several speakeasies he owned in Buffalo. After the 1930s he resided in Phoenix, Arizona until his death in 1941. Perhaps he made enough money during prohibition that he was able to leave the harsh winters of upper Wyoming and retire in the warmer (much hotter summers) climate. Another example is R. H. Oliver who managed the Buffalo-Sheridan Stage & Automobile Line. They had a stage that left Monday through Saturday and an automobile that left daily. The stage left Sheridan at 7:00 a.m. and arrived in Buffalo at 4:00 p.m., returning on the same times. The automobile leftat 7:30 a.m., passing the stage along the way and arrived in Buffalo by noon. In 1907 it was just a stage line, managed by someone else, and by 1912 it was back to being just a stage line. while the saddle makers in Cheyenne seemed to have their hands full just making saddles, the makers in Sheridan/Buffalo area tended to branch out and participate in other business ventures besides just the manufacture of saddles and tack. Many of these frontier saddle makers started out as cowboys who would repair saddles and tack in their spare time, and with this experience started making saddles from scratch turning it into a profession.

     One of the one going projects that he is doing is the photography of all of the saddles in the Wyoming State Museum for their archival purposes as well as his research. There is much more to do out there, but it is a start.