The Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame, created by the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) to honor sporting goods pioneers, will induct Larry Aasheim of Universal Athletic and Kevin Plank of Under Armour as its 2017 class. Aasheim and Plank will join more than 160 innovative sporting goods industry leaders who have received this honor. The induction will take place at the 53rd Annual NSGA Management Conference and 19th Annual Team Dealer Summit next May in Scottsdale, AZ.
“We are pleased to induct two industry leaders who have made, and continue to make, a lasting impact on the industry,” said Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame Committee Chairman Cathy Pryor (Hibbett Sports). “Larry and Kevin embody the spirit of innovation and leadership. I look forward to presenting them this honor next May at the NSGA Management Conference and Team Dealer Summit.”
Aasheim was Universal Athletic’s President and Chairman of the Board from 1989 to 2015. He co-founded the company as Universal Athletic Service, a team sporting goods business providing athletic equipment to high schools and colleges in Montana. Now a regional retailer and team dealer headquartered in Bozeman, MT, Universal has 13 locations and 50 team salesmen working in 11 Midwest and Western states.
Plank founded Under Armour in the mid-90s as a high-performance alternative to cotton workout T-shirts, starting out with one tight shirt design manufactured with performance synthetics. He now oversees a global company that outfits athletes at all levels.
Aasheim and Plank will be honored at the Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony on Tuesday, May 23, 2017.
