James T. Gorman, a former University of Oregon runner during the Prefontaine days who went on the work for Nike, Adidas, Puma, Diadora and Columbia Sportswear, has passed away.
According to an obituary provided by the Chesmore Funeral Home in Hopkinton, MA, Gorman was one of the original employees at Nike. He managed Nike's first company-owned retail store and sold shoes from the back of a Volkswagen van. In an 18-year career with the company, Gorman rose to divisional vice president.
Gorman also worked as a senior vice president at Adidas; chief executive of Diadora; Puma North America president; president and chief marketing officer at Momentum Brand Group; and most recently as vice president of footwear manufacturing for Columbia Sportswear.
According to the Oregonian, he died June 12 at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston where he was being treated for scleroderma.
The full OBIT from the Oregonian is here.
