It's a sad day for Nike with Geoff Hollister, one of the company's first ever employees and a torch bearer for the brand for almost 40 years passing away after a long struggle with cancer. One of legendary track coach Bill Bowerman's original 'Men of Oregon', Hollister was there right from the beginning when Phil Knight founded Blue Ribbon Sports to distribute Onitsuka Tiger sneakers in North America. Amongst Hollister's many contributions to Nike and running in general was his establishment of the elite Athletic West track club, a revered name that is still referenced by Nike Sportswear shoes and apparel. For a terrific overview of Hollister's life and achievements be sure to check out this tribute on Oregon Live.
