Bill Bowerman

Bowerman, of course, is credited with creating the first lightweight outsole shoe from some latex, leather, glue and his wife’s waffle iron. He and Knight each put up $500 and made and sold 330 pairs of the shoes. From those early successes, of course, Nike was born and both Bowerman and Knight became larger than life. [1]

In June 1999, Bowerman stepped down as a member of the Nike Board of Directors, a post he held since 1968. In honor of his contributions to the sport of running and to the development of this company, Nike established the Bowerman Foundation. Nike is contributing a $1 million matching-funds program to the foundation, which will renovate youth track-and-field facilities around the world through 2005. Along with this track restoration project, Nike saluted Bowerman and his unique spirit with a line of high-performance track-and-field footwear - the Bowerman Series. [2]

Six months after his retirement in 1999, Bill Bowerman died in his sleep on Christmas Eve in his home in Fossil, Oregon. He was 88 years old. Just like the old man to run off without telling anyone.[3]