As the year comes to a close, SGB Media remembers the leaders in the Active Lifestyle Industry we lost in 2021.
Virgil Abloh was the artistic director of menswear for Louis Vuitton and the founder of the cult streetwear label Off-White. He was known for his collaborations with brands that ranged from Nike to Evian and Ikea that blended streetwear with luxury. On Nike’s second-quarter conference call on December 21, John Donahoe, president and CEO, said, “Since 2016, Virgil has been a beloved member of the Nike, Jordan and Converse family. He was a brilliant creative force who shared a passion for challenging the status quo and pushing forward a new vision while inspiring multiple generations along the way. But what stood out to me personally about Virgil was his humility and humanity. We offer our condolences to the many who shared a connection with Virgil. He will be missed greatly.”
David Kennedy, the co-founder of Wieden+Kennedy, was best known for his work with Nike. Nike was Wieden+Kennedy’s first client with its first ads for the brand featured on three television commercials aired during the 1982 New York City Marathon. Early successes with its Nike partnership include “Bo Knows,” featuring Bo Jackson, and “Mars and Mike,” with filmmaker Spike Lee and Michael Jordan. Photo courtesy Wieden+Kennedy
Joseph Khezrie founded the Jimmy Jazz urban sneaker chain in the New York metro area. The first store opened at Delancey Street and Orchard Street in New York City’s Lower East Side in 1988. Photo courtesy Jimmy Jazz
After losing her husband Klaus in a plane crash in 2012, Lenhart took the reins of LEKI and led the ski pole specialist for nine years. Photo courtesy LEKI
Grandson of O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc. founder Oscar Mossberg, Alan Mossberg, started working for the Mossberg organization at a very young age. For the better part of the last 50 years, he became a pillar of the global firearms industry by leading Mossberg to grow into one of the largest and small arms manufacturers. Photo courtesy O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc.
Tim Myers was an original member of the Dick’s Sporting Goods team in Binghamton, NY, having been hired by Dick at age 16. Known as “Buck” to his close friends, Myers would continue to work for the retailer for 49 years. His roles over his career included running the archery department, managing the Binghamton and Vestal stores, implementing its first IT department, and managing the retailer’s first distribution center. Prior to his death, Myers had been guiding Dick’s Sporting Goods Open since its founding in 2007. Photo courtesy Dick’s Sporting Goods
Chip McCormick
Chip McCormick consulted with Kimber Mfg. Owner and CEO Leslie Edelman to create the firearm industry’s first mass-produced 1911 pistols that included custom features. His contributions included a beavertail grip safety, an extended slide stop and manual safety.
Leigh Perkins bought Orvis in 1965 when it was mail-order fishing tackle shop in Manchester, VT for $400,000 and over the next three decades transformed it into one of the country’s most respected sporting, apparel and dog brands. Photo courtesy Orvis
Paul Prince was one of the longest-tenured staff members in NSGA history at 39 years. He was involved with the association’s trade shows when he joined in November 1970 and was vice president of business development when he retired on September 30, 2010. Photo courtesy NSGA
Patricia Rojas-Ungar was formerly VP of government affairs at the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA). She also held senior roles in the U.S. Travel Association and vice president at Strategic Marketing Innovations, Inc.
Fred Segal opened his first store in West Hollywood, CA, in 1961 with the Beatles, Diana Ross, Elvis Presley, and Farrah Fawcett among its earliest fans. The retail merchant is also credited for launching a range of emerging brands that embraced the California lifestyle, including Hard Candy, Trina Turk and Juicy Couture. Photo courtesy Getty
In 1990, Bernard Tapie, a French industrialist, purchased Adidas after finding success turning around several struggling businesses. He was credited with saving the company from bankruptcy by, among other steps, shifting manufacturing to Asia, recruiting Bob Strasser, the former chief of design at Nike, and changing the image of the brand that led to the popularity of the three stripes triangle. Photo courtesy Getty
Paul Van Doren co-founded Vans with his brother Jim and two partners to open their first location of the Van Doren Rubber Co. in 1966 in Anaheim, CA. The starting price for a pair of Vans was $2.49. In subsequent years, the retailer became known as the “House of Vans.” Photo courtesy Vans
