Date of Birth: February 19, 1911
Zodiac Sign: Pisces
Date of Death: December 24, 1999
Biography
Bill Bowerman was an influential American track and field coach and co-founder of Nike, Inc. Born on February 19, 1911, in Portland, Oregon, Bowerman made a significant impact on the world of athletics both as a coach and an innovator. He attended the University of Oregon, where he was a standout athlete. After serving in World War II, Bowerman returned to the University of Oregon as head track coach in 1948. Over his 24-year coaching career, he trained 31 Olympic athletes, 51 All-Americans, 12 world record holders, and 16 sub-4 minute milers. Aside from his coaching accolades, Bowerman is perhaps best known for his role in the founding of Nike. Along with his former student Phil Knight, he launched Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964, which later became Nike. Bowerman’s relentless quest to improve athletic performance led to the creation of the iconic Nike “Waffle” sole, inspired by his wife’s waffle iron. He was inducted into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame in 2000, and his legacy continues to influence the world of sports and athletics.
5 Interesting Facts about Bill Bowerman
1. Bill Bowerman co-founded Nike, Inc. with his former student Phil Knight.
2. He invented the famous Nike “Waffle” sole using his wife’s waffle iron in 1971.
3. Bowerman served as a major in the U.S. Army during World War II and received four Bronze Star Medals.
4. He coached the University of Oregon’s track team for 24 years, producing numerous Olympians and world record holders.
5. He was inducted into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame in 2000.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Bill Bowerman
1. “If you have a body, you are an athlete.”
2. “The real purpose of running isn’t to win a race; it’s to test the limits of the human heart.”
3. “Victory is in having done your best. If you’ve done your best, you’ve won.”
4. “A teacher is never too smart to learn from his pupils.”
5. “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just soft people.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the time of his death in 1999, Bill Bowerman’s estimated net worth was around $400 million, largely due to his stake in Nike, Inc.
Children
Bill Bowerman and his wife, Barbara Young, had three sons: Jon, William Jay, and Thomas.
Relevant Links
1. [Bill Bowerman Biography – Nike News](https://news.nike.com/news/bill-bowerman
2. [Bill Bowerman – Oregon Encyclopedia](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/bowerman_bill/
3. [Bill Bowerman – National Distance Running Hall of Fame](https://www.distancerunning.com/
5. [Bill Bowerman – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Bowerman
