A NOTE FROM BILL

	Bill Thomas President BILLS KHAKIS

I have wanted to start a company newsletter ever since we made our second pair of khakis. I started Bills Khakis on a combination of an idea, an ideal, and a determination fueled by the thought that this is just so right. Somehow I felt that the company could grow to represent something greater than itself. Explain that to the bank. Welcome to my world. With all this thought, philosophy and virtue, it is perhaps inevitable that we introduce our first newsletter. It is intended to extend a special look into our company, the people behind it, and most importantly, the personalities that really make things tick, our customers.

Much like the baseball field in the "Field of Dreams," customers tend to gravitate toward Bills Khakis for the same reasons I started the business, a compelling force they can't quite define. I describe it as a quest for what is true, what is good, what is simple. Finding things that are consistently there, reliable to the point of relief, unspoiled by the notion of "new and improved" is a quest. Build it and they will come.

A catalog is no place to go on about such esoteric things, but a newsletter is. We will attempt to bring you stories from people who share a common appreciation for good things, great places and exceptional experiences.

We are looking for your letters and photographs for inclusion in our next newsletter. Your contributions are not only appreciated, but necessary to create a newsletter that lives up to the above.

THE KHAKI AND THE SAWFISH
by John J. Dever, Jr., General Manager, Bills Khakis

When I was just a young lad, probably around seven or so, my brother Tom and I stumbled across my father's old army foot locker. My Father, John Dever, Sr., had proudly served in the United States Army during WWII. Specifically, my Dad was a member of U.S. 5th Army, 536th anti-aircraft battalion, serving overseas during the years 1942 to 1944. As was the case with many returning war veterans, my Dad had collected a number of artifacts and memorabilia of the war and stored them in the locker. As it turned out, and as I understand was typical for many veterans, he rarely revisited the foot locker (most probably to keep the ghosts "at bay"). But for my brother and me, it did not represent ghosts, but more a treasure trove of real stuff that, by touching and holding, would bring you right into the thick of the "action" and in some way closer to the person who owned it. As we sorted and dug through Dad's collection of assorted war memorabilia, we came across something that just didn't belong. Amidst all that neat war stuff was the "business end" of a sawfish.

left: John J. Dever, Sr. 1920-1995, U.S. Army WWII, 5th Army 536th Anti-Aircraft Battalion

right:The sawfish, a dangerous-looking fish, uses its teeth to tear open the body of its victims. Its snout is about six feet long and it is considered one of the most dangerous of all fish in the sea.

When quizzed, my Dad's explanation was that he "caught" the sawfish with his khakis when he was on a troop ship travelling back to the States at the end of the war. Evidently the normal method of washing your khakis at the time was to tie a rope through the leg, throw them overboard, and, after a period of time, pull the rope in. Voila, washed khakis! (an early form of "distressing," replaced by commercial laundering). In keeping with this practice, my Dad began pulling (read: reeling) in his pants, and, much to his surprise, he had latched on to a sawfish. Well, what happened next gets a little fuzzy. My brother Tom recollects that my Dad's story involved a fight that lasted over an hour with several battalion buddies assisting in the battle. (I don't quite remember it that way, but it sounds good). Anyway, after what we will call "a good fight," the fish relinquished its saw... to the mighty khaki!

Now, I've done some research on this. I remember the saw to be almost three feet in length. That would put the age of the fish at around four years of age (twenty-five fish years). It is widely known that a sawfish is at the peak of his cartilaginous strength at the age of four, so it would stand to reason that the force necessary to "snap" off the saw of this particular fish must have been enormous. And, the khakis prevailed!

I wish my Dad was still with us so he could enjoy the memory. I also wish I had that pair of khakis to hang on my wall. But, I know that if I go into our stockroom, I can find a worthy replica, sans saw.

SPONSORED ATHLETES

Bills Khakis takes an active role in sponsoring several professional athletes. This sponsorship takes the form of product sponsorship, for which we get the pleasure of supporting highly talented athletes marked by the Bills Khakis brand name.

left: Kevin Johnson, Buy.Com Tour golf pro co-sponsored by Bills Khakis watches his tee shot on the 10th hole at the Nike Wichita Open at Willowbend Golf Club. Thirty-two year old Johnson is from West Palm Beach, FL.

center:G.J. Mennen, Jr. pro racecar driver promotes Bills Khakis in auto racing. A native of Austin, Texas, he is presently competing in the Trans-Am Pro Series.

right:U.S. Pro mountain biker Paul Willerton hammers the tough terrain and sprints and climbs out of the saddle with the performance of a hardtail, all the while promoting Bills Khakis.

This group of athletes includes professional golfer Kevin Johnson of the Buy.Com Golf Tour, pro. auto racer G.J. Mennen, and U.S. Pro Mountain Biker Paul Willerton. Each athlete has been performing on a world class level over the course of his career and we are thrilled to be associated with them.

CORDS ON THE BEACH

Ask Richard Chamberlain why he wears his Bills 8-wale cords in the summer, and he'll tell you because they are cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
An unconventional look, he will admit, for his daily summer strolls down the beach. "The other day a gentleman asked me why I was wearing winter corduroys on the beach. Looking down in a quick study, I realized they were indeed my winter cords. I thanked the gentleman and told him he was quite observant. Indeed, my uncuffed pair was in the laundry."

BFROM THE FIELD

Hey Bill,
I just returned from living in Kenya for the last 10 months. That makes 13 countries and 8 years that the first pair of Bills Khakis you sold me over at East Coast have lasted. I've lived in these pants - slept, bled, vomited, been stung, camel ridden .... shoot I've done everything in these khakis a guy can do while wearing a pair of pants (and many things a guy shouldn't be doing in a pair of pants).

They are awesome!

The last time I stopped by the store I bought a pair of your olive pants and some corduroys. I am equally impressed with the wear, the durability and the style.

Keep up the great workmanship. Next time I am in Pennsylvania, I'll stop by for my 8-year renewal purchase of the finest khakis around.

Peace, Cliff.

ANOTHER NOTE FROM BILL

Edition one.
We're working to make this a great publication and we think we're off to a good start. Contact Marge at 1-800-43-khaki or customerservice@billskhakis.com with submissions, contributions and pictures.

We'll do our best to keep going and to keep you up with what we are finding.

Now go find yourself a great dog and we'll write again soon.

Take care,

Bill Thomas,
President
BILLS KHAKIS