Bill Bowerman

About

Made the University of Oregon a premier destination for aspiring pro runners. He touched off the jogging craze in the United States and co-founded Nike.

Before Fame

He worked as a journalist and a sometime high-school track coach before he was hired by his alma mater to coach track.

Trivia

He and Phil Knight, his former trainee, each invested $500 into a company called Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964, importing Japanese Tiger running shoes to the U.S.

Family Life

He had two daughters and three sons with his wife Barbara Young Bowerman.

Associated With

He was played by Donald Sutherland in the 1998 movie Without Limits, which centered on his relationship with his most famous trainee, Steve Prefonatine.