Various pieces of iconography immediately come to mind when thinking about Corpus Christi: Whataburger’s orange and white stripes; Selena’s iconic bedazzled outfits; palm trees and waves; and Ronnie “Pointy Boots” Mathis.
If you haven’t heard the name, you’ve most certainly seen the man. Dressed to the nines at all times, Mathis dons a bright-colored suit, pointy boots that extend about a foot into the air and the biggest cowboy hat you’ve ever seen. With his suit closet containing yellow, red, blue, purple and white versions of the recognizable ensemble, Mathis goes the extra mile by customizing each piece — from the bedazzled belt buckles to rhinestone-lined boots, he does it all himself.
“Before an event, he spends hours ironing his suits, making sure his jewelry is clean,” shared Mike Barnes, Mathis’ friend-turned-manager. “Everything has to be perfect.”
Barnes met Mathis out in the community over eight years ago. Barnes, a fellow veteran who builds and fixes electric cars and bikes, saw the local legend on his then-manual bike and instantly knew he could help elevate the overall Pointy Boots production. He built Mathis an electric bike from the ground up, and has since played an integral role in helping Mathis market himself for event appearances.
“I’ll do whatever I can to help him keep going,” Barnes lovingly said about his friend. “He’s an icon in this community. If he stopped, people would ask, ‘Where’s Ronnie?’”
But how did it all start? How did Mathis become synonymous with the phrase “pointy boots?” His unique persona began as a way to bring joy to others and distance himself from past struggles, including a history with drugs and alcohol, which he overcame more than 25 years ago.
Wanting to stand out and connect with people, he began crafting the eye-catching looks. His appearances at community events, often done free of charge, quickly made him a recognizable figure throughout Corpus Christi. Mathis credits his mother, who is 102 years old, for instilling in him a sense of style and the importance of taking pride in the ensembles you put together.
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“He’s a showstopper,” Barnes said of Mathis. “People wave and honk at him when he’s riding his bike. It takes a while to get anywhere because he has to stop and talk to everyone.”
Recently, Mathis was honored through life-like portraits painted by local artist Alison Schuchs, who depicts Mathis as seen in pictures taken by Shoocha Photography Studios. The paintings act as a memorialization of Mathis’ beloved spirit. In partnership with the Art Museum of South Texas, a special unveiling of the portraits took place in December 2024 and the works are now on display and for sale at K Space Contemporary and Nueces Brewing & Barbecuing. A portion of the proceeds from the paintings will go directly to Mathis.
“There’s only one Ronnie,” Barnes said. “Other people could try to duplicate him, but nobody talks to people like he does. He’s the life of the party but he also listens and inspires. He works so hard because he loves what he does.”
There is truly no one else like Ronnie “Pointy Boots” Mathis, and his influence goes far beyond impressing crowds with his fashion. At the heart of Mathis’ mission lies a deep desire to connect with the people he loves; the city he loves.
Contact: To book Mathis for an event or special appearance, contact Mike Barnes at (361) 903-8825.
