Geoff Hollister, one of the visionary figures in Nike’s spectacular rise from Barbara Bowerman’s waffle iron to global corporate giant, died this morning in Sunriver, Oregon.
I was fortunate to meet Geoff and spend a little time with him when his book “Out of Nowhere” came out in 2008. I was amazed to learn how much influence and involvement he had at pivotal moments for Nike, the University of Oregon, the sport of track and field and much more — and so much of it happened behind the scenes.
Here is an email sent by Gonzaga University of track and cross country coach Pat Tyson, who has known Hollister for about 40 years:
“MAY YOU HAVE AIR IN YOUR LUNGS, LIFE IN YOUR LEGS, HAVE THE WIND AT YOUR BACK, AND WINGS ON YOUR FEET – I AM HONORED AND HUMBLED” — GEOFF HOLLISTER
Geoff’s last e-mail sent out Sunday January 29th, 2012 to Nike employee Amy Frazer in regards to his amazement in her trying to find something to do for his birthday (February 3rd this past Friday) and that “something” was “A Fun Run” – The Word spread. To quote Geoff; “It would become viral, even global.”
Geoff passed away this morning Monday February 6, 2012 at 2:47 am … He was surrounded by his family and he left peacefully … It is tough stuff when you lose a very close friend … It is tough stuff when you lose an icon of our great sport … It is tough stuff that you lose someone who cared more about others than himself … He will be missed but his legacy for eternity is in place … Like Bowerman and Like Prefontaine, Hollister’s spirit will carry on as coaches and athletes from the present generation pass on Geoff’s message of excellence in all we do. Hollister demanded perfection! Geoff demanded a strong work ethic mixed with some ”quality fun time” which he learned from Pre. Geoff loved “grass roots running”! He was an artist that took risks and certainly “thought outside of the box” in his shoe designs, color schemes, connecting with youth running and in particular the native American group “Wings of America”. He was a creator and inspired new grass roots thinkers like young Nike employees John Truax and Josh Rowe who would create “Border Clash” and “Nike Team Nationals” which have exploded the youth running movement.
Geoff will be missed at summer running camps throughout the USA. He lives on through his book Out of Nowhere and movie documentaries such as Pre’s“Fire On The Track”, Bowerman’s “Builderman”, and his latest creation on Joan Benoit Samuelson “There Is No Finishline”. I personally will keep the Fire of Geoff Hollister Alive in my personal life and my professional life. I will demand from my athletes total commitment in the classroom and in athletics. I will share these values in the running camps I work at and any opportunities I have when speaking with young distance runners and coaches. In closing, I will continually be inspired by his last quote shared above. There will be no “short cuts”! There will be no “slacking”! I will have some “quality fun time with my friends” … Cheers to the Hollister Family! Cheers to his Nike Family! Cheers to all of the running world including all of the Men of Oregon and South Eugene Axemen! Cheers to The Gonzaga Distance runners (He was our guest speaker in the Spring of 2010) … Tyson
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