Rex Arrowsmith

REX ARROWSMITH Rex Arrowsmith, longtime Santa Fe resident and iconic Indian trader, has died at 92. Born in Belleville, Kansas, Rex developed an early interest in American Indian culture and began collecting artifacts as a youth. The knowledge attained from this passion would prove to be very useful later in his life. At 19, he served in World War II as an officer aboard a tanker that carried aviation fuel to combat zones. Following his service, Arrowsmith graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in mining and metallurgical engineering. While at KU, he met Bonnie Cunningham who became his wife in 1949. He left a lucrative, executive position in Houston, Texas, in 1959 to pursue his passion and opened up a store, Arrowsmith's Relics of the Old West, in Santa Fe across from the Oldest Church on College Street. The unique store and trading post attracted clientele from around the world. Rex was equally at ease wheeling and dealing with Elvis or John Wayne, negotiating with champions of industry, speaking at a board of directors meeting, hunting or fishing with Indian friends or living like a native in the jungles of Costa Rica. Rex was also one of the last, true Indian traders. He would take his sons with him on trading trips to the reservations where he would acquire stock for the store directly from his many Pueblo, Navajo and Hopi Indian friends and from other trading posts and had Indians from the local pueblos coming in on a daily basis to do business. Rex developed many close relationships with these people which resulted in wonderful memories for the entire family. Many a time the Arrowsmiths were invited to spend the night during ceremonials and dances and feasts. Very few would ever experience these events in such intimate surroundings. The business was expanded in 1972 when the Arrowsmith-Fenn Gallery was established on Paseo de Peralta. The new gallery met with success, as well, but Rex and Bonnie had a yearning for travel and sold out their interests to achieve this dream. For over thirty years they circled the globe and saw many beautiful places and made incredible memories. Rex Arrowsmith's achievements in life were many. He was president or chairman of the board of many organizations including SWAIA, The Old Santa Fe Association, and El Rancho de Las Golondrinas. He was very active in the Indian Market for over 50 years and with the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonials. Rex worked tirelessly to retain the character of Santa Fe during the urban renewal push in the 1960's by seeing that historic buildings were saved from demolition by getting into place strict zoning laws within the historic districts. Few know that Rex was a member of the Screen Actors Guild and appeared regularly in the TV series, "Empire" with a young Ryan O'Neal and Charles Bronson and had parts in movies filmed in the Santa Fe area. He was also a candidate as U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica. However, it is his attributes as a human being for which he will be most remembered. He rarely spoke about his deep Christian faith but lived it every day. Rex was honest to a fault. Most of his deals were made on a handshake and his trustworthiness benefited him both in business and in personal life. He never had a bad word to say about anyone and was very generous. Rex had a great sense of humor and was always the jokester. It was not often that you saw him without a smile on his face. He was kind to others and to his family. The experiences he amassed during his lifetime were wonderful and provided topics for his legendary story telling ability. He will be greatly missed by friends and family alike! Rex Arrowsmith is survived by his wife of 68 years, Bonnie, two sons, Murray and Mark, and their respective wives, Marilyn and Sue, twelve grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. A memorial fund has been set up with SWAIA in his name to benefit the Santa Fe Indian Market. Donations may be sent to: John Jones, SWAIA, P.O. Box 969, Santa Fe, NM 87504-0969.