Bill Bowerman

@Co-founder of Nike, Timeline and Childhood ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Bill Bowerman was an American track and field coach, winner of the Oxford Cup and co-founder of the Nike, Inc American University Of Oregon Sportspersons Coaches Aquarius Celebrities William Jay ‘Bill’ Bowerman is known in the American sports history for being one of the best American track and field coaches and the co-owner and prime designer of the athletic shoe company Nike, Inc. Bowerman was attracted to the game of football since he was in his high school and used to play for his team in Medford and Seattle schools. The recognition of his talent only encouraged him to pursue it further and he enrolled himself at the University of Oregon where he played for the university team. But he discovered his inclination towards coaching rather than playing and he started to teach biology and coach at the same time at Franklin High School in Portland, later shifting to Medford. He took a break from what he loved the most to serve his country during the Pearl Harbor attack and after serving four years in the American army he came back to teaching and coaching again. He became the head track coach at the University of Oregon and introduced many innovative techniques that helped athletes including bringing the concept of ‘jogging’ as a fitness technique to America from his travels to New Zealand. He wrote many books on jogging that sensationalized the idea in America and while he was propagating it, he co-founded America’s prominent athletic shoe making company called Nike, Inc. He was the head designer for the company and dedicated his life in creating shoes that helped athletes to perform better in the field.

Personal Details

Birthday: February 19, 1911 Died on: December 24, 1999 Nationality: American Famous: Co-founder of Nike, Inc, University Of Oregon, Sportspersons, Coaches Spouses: Barbara Young Bowerman Siblings: Dan, Mary Elizabeth Known as: William Jay Bowerman Information Detail Birthday February 19, 1911 Died on December 24, 1999 Nationality American Famous Co-founder of Nike, Inc, University Of Oregon, Sportspersons, Coaches Spouses Barbara Young Bowerman Siblings Dan, Mary Elizabeth Known as William Jay Bowerman Childrens 1938), Jon Bowerman (born June 22, William J. Universities University Of Oregon North Medford High School University of Oregon Notable Alumnis University Of Oregon Founder / Co-Founder Nike Inc. Birth Place Portland, Oregon, U.S. Religion Christian Gender Male Father Jay Bowerman Net Worth $400 million Sun Sign Aquarius Born in Portland, Oregon, U.S. Famous as Co-founder of Nike, Inc. Died at Age 88

Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Bill Bowerman born at Unsplash Birth Place

Bowerman met his wife Barbara Young in his high school in Medford. They got married in 1936 and had two sons together, Jon and William J. Bowerman was born. Unsplash Personal Life

Bowerman died peacefully in his sleep on Christmas Eve in 1999 in his home in Fossil, Oregon. Unsplash Personal Life

Bill Bowerman was born in Portland, Oregon to Jay Bowerman, who was the 13th Governor of Oregon. His parents got divorced when he was only 2 years old and he went on to live with his mother in Fossil. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

Bowerman went to Medford and Seattle schools and did his high school from Medford where he played for the state champion football team. He then attended the University of Oregon to pursue journalism as well as play football. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

His first job after finishing university was to teach biology and coach the football team at the Franklin High School, Portland. In the following year, he shifted to Medford to teach as well as coach football. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

In 1941, during the Pearl Harbor attack, he joined the American army as a 2nd lieutenant and was assigned to Fort Lawton, Washington. In the following year he was sent to Camp Hale in Leadville, Colorado. Unsplash Career

He was promoted to commander of the 86th Regiment's First Battalion at the rank of Major in 1944 when his division arrived in Italy. The next year, he received four Bronze Star Medals and a Silver Star for his service. Unsplash Career

In 1945, after finishing stint with the American army, Bowerman came back to teaching and coaching at Medford High School. Unsplash Career

In 1948, he became the head track coach at the University of Oregon. Unsplash Career

In 1962, Bowerman served as the coach to the world setting 4-mile relay team of University of Oregon. The team consisted of members like Archie San Romani, Dyrol Burleson, Vic Reeve, and Keith Forman. Unsplash Career

While Bowerman is known for his innovative coaching techniques, his prominent contribution has been the formation of the famous shoe company, Nike, Inc. He was the top designer for the company and gave designs like ‘Nike Cortez’, ‘Moon Shoe’, etc. Unsplash Major Work

Information	Detail
Birthday	February 19, 1911
Died on	December 24, 1999
Nationality	American
Famous	Co-founder of Nike, Inc, University Of Oregon, Sportspersons, Coaches
Spouses	Barbara Young Bowerman
Siblings	Dan, Mary Elizabeth
Known as	William Jay Bowerman
Childrens	1938), Jon Bowerman (born June 22, William J.
Universities	University Of Oregon North Medford High School University of Oregon
Notable Alumnis	University Of Oregon
Founder / Co-Founder	Nike Inc.
Birth Place	Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Religion	Christian
Gender	Male
Father	Jay Bowerman
Net Worth	$400 million
Sun Sign	Aquarius
Born in	Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Famous as	Co-founder of Nike, Inc.
Died at Age	88

Bill Bowerman

American

Feb 19, 1911

Biography

Personal Details

Portland, Oregon, U.S.