S. P. Stevens — Old Kentucky Rifle, Stevens Advertising, self-taught artist — SA Express-News, Oct 1966
The richest primary-source document on S. P. Stevens found to date. San Antonio Express-News staff writer Sylvia Springer profiles Stevens at his home at 239 Windsor Dr., San Antonio, surrounded by more than 2,000 early American and early Texas artifacts. The article establishes his origins in Marlin, Texas; his outdoor advertising business (Stevens Advertising, with billboard crews in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and other states); his parallel life as a self-taught artist (“I never took a lesson”) painting western scenes, portraits, and women’s faces; and his photography hobby. The article appeared October 1966, four years after Continental Coffee of Chicago acquired Hoffmann-Hayman, and confirms Stevens was operating his outdoor-advertising business throughout the H&H era.
See the companion clips from 1957 and 1958, and the 1974 Thomas Flyer feature. Full analysis: S. P. Stevens KB page.
Transcription
Photo caption: COLLECTOR AND HIS COLLECTION — S.P. Stevens, 239 Windsor Dr., holds up on early American rifle, one of several hundred he owns. Revolutionary period guns and powder kegs hanging on the wall of his den are part of Stevens’ collection of more than 2,000 early American and early Texas items.—Staff Photo.
Headline: Old Kentucky Rifle Sparks An Interest in Collecting
By Sylvia Springer
When S.P. Stevens was a small boy growing up in Marlin, Tex., someone gave him an old Kentucky rifle to play with.
That was how he got his start at collecting.
Today, Stevens owns more than 2,000 early American and Texas items, from everything from Indian items to old Bowie knives, salt rifles of all sizes and [text cut at left margin] has transformed the den of his home at 239 Windsor Dr. into a room that existed hundreds of years ago.
“THIS ISN’T ALL the stuff I’ve got by a means,” Stevens said, laughing. “I also have a lot at the office. Every few weeks I bring out some different guns, knives, or lanterns and change things around a bit.”
“I also collect early American coins, antique steam engines, and [wagon-engine-operated popcorn wagons]…”
On his business:
Going into BUSINESS for himself, Stevens explains “Stevens Advertising,” which has billboard crews working in surrounding states operating in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and other states.
On being a self-taught artist:
“Going with his photography, Stevens is an amateur artist, painting western scenes, plus portraits of men who lived in that age, and faces of women.”
“Visitors to his den are apt to see cowboys chasing horses and leading guns, or Indians off to battle, portrayed in vivid color.”
“I NEVER TOOK a lesson, but I had so darn much fun doing it. Sometimes, I’ll paint something to change a mood of the room. It’s just my guns and things of that type.”
On trading and dealing:
“YOU HAVE TO KNOW how to trade if you’re going to keep your collection and run said fairs. I see something I want and I set my price on it…”
On his Civil War collection:
“With my civil war staff, see that original oil painting of Robert E. Lee,” he said, “it goes right along with the other authentic pieces of the Civil War.”
On photography:
“Being in the sign business makes it easier to indulge your hobby with photography,” Stevens said. “This summer alone, I went to Europe… I took over 1,000 slides and will blow them up to 18 by 25 inches.”
“‘I do all the developing myself,’ he said. ‘This goes back to when I was a kid too. I always liked to get a camera in my hand and take a few shots.’”
[Note: left-margin text cut in scan; some passages partially reconstructed from visible fragments.]
Source
- San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio, Tex.), 1 October 1966 (Saturday), p. 13-B.
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- Accessed: 2026-05-21
