On August 22, Oboz Footwear Founder and outdoor industry luminary John Connelly passed away following a long battle with various cancers.
“John was a visionary, the ultimate non-conformist and a forever optimist,” said Oboz President Amy Beck.“He will always be a part of Oboz, from devising the name our Outside + Bozeman to our commitment to community, trees and this beautiful place that we get to call home.”
Born in 1947, Connelly began his career in the outdoor industry at an outdoor shop in Richmond, VA, and worked with over 15 outdoor footwear brands over the following 40 years. In 2007, he founded Oboz and built it into one of the leading outdoor brands. In 2018, he sold the company to one of the brand’s original retailer partners, New Zealand’s Kathmandu.
Connelly was a serial entrepreneur who loved sports car racing almost as much as creating innovative footwear. He combined his two passions in his most recent venture, Chicane footwear.
“The Oboz family sends love and condolences to his family and friends,” added Beck. “We’ll be sure to toast John with a little Agwa on Friday.”
“Agwa is a bright green; one might say Oboz-green, Bolivian liqueur that has become an Oboz tradition for toasts at events and celebrations,” noted Oboz in a media release.
Image courtesy Oboz
