2. Phil Knight
Track runner at the
University of Oregon.
Graduated from Oregon as
well as Stanford.
While at Stanford he built
a relationship with a
manufacturing company in
Japan hoping to start
selling their shoes in the
U.S.
Sent sample shoes to track
coach looking to make a
sale but his coach thought
otherwise.
3. Bill Bowerman
Well respected track coach
at the University of
Oregon.
In 1964 Bowerman and
Knight shook hands, put
in $500 each, and formed
Blue Ribbon Sports.
Knight sold the shoes out
of the trunk of his car,
Bowerman ripped shoes
apart to see how he could
make them better.
4. Jeff Johnson
Became the first full-time
employee for Blue Ribbon
Sports in 1965.
Created print ads, brochures,
and did all marketing for
BRS.
Opened first BRS store in
1966 in Santa Monica,
California.
Came up with the name
NIKE (meaning the greek
goddess of victory) in 1971.
“Swoosh” logo was created
by a woman named Caroline
Davidson for $35.
