Our New Hermes Scarf Book Featuring Designs By A Texas Postman…
Written by Clayton Gray Home
Yes, your eyes are not deceiving you. 70 year old Kermit Oliver, of Waco, Texas is a Postman by trade. Kermit is also an artist.
Most of his art deals with children or animals. His love of painting caught the eye of one famous Texan, Shelby Marcus, the wife of Lawrence Marcus, founder of Neiman Marcus. Shelby was instrumental in getting Oliver recognized by Hermes.
In the 70’s, Shelby met Oliver and this is where it all began. Hermes was in search of an artist to produce a Southwest themed line, and Marcus stepped in with a recommendation. The rest is history…
Around this time, as his name became associated with Hermes and the Marcus family, his artworks began selling for more than $70,000. Nonetheless, he showed up day after day to sort mail at the Waco post office.
In the late 90’s, Oliver’s youngest son, Khristian was sentenced to death for the beating of a man during a home robbery. Hermes and Marcus helped him set up a legal fund but the sentence was never revoked. In November 2009, Khristian was put to death by lethal injection. His life has never been the same.
According to an interview with NPR, “He became even more reclusive”, Shelby Marcus said. “I believe he had some searching to do within himself about his religion, because he was so crushed.”
Oliver, who is more of a recluse these days still delivers mail each week in the town of Waco. He also dabbles in art and is still associated with the art and design of Hermes.
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