Phil Knight

Philip Hampson Knight, co-founder and emeritus chairman of Nike, Inc., was born on February 24, 1938, in Portland, Oregon. Knight's influence in the world of sport and business has been profound, with Nike growing from a small shoe distributor to a global athletic empire.

On January 25, 1964, Phil Knight and his former track coach, Bill Bowerman, founded Blue Ribbon Sports. Initially a distributor for the Japanese shoemaker Onitsuka Tiger, the company would eventually evolve into the global brand Nike, setting a new standard for athletic wear.

In 1971, Phil Knight, along with Bill Bowerman, launched the 'Nike' brand, named after the Greek goddess of victory. This brand split from Blue Ribbon Sports marked the beginning of a new era of innovation and global expansion in the sporting goods industry.

On December 2, 1980, Nike went public, selling 2,377,000 shares of Class B common stock at $22 per share. This event marked a major milestone for the company, providing capital for further expansion and solidifying its status as a major player in the athletic market globally.

In 1984, Phil Knight and Nike signed basketball player Michael Jordan, forever changing sports marketing. The partnership led to the creation of the Air Jordan line, one of the most successful athlete endorsements and sneaker phenomena in history, shaping the future of sneakers.

In 1993, Phil Knight was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame, recognizing his significant contributions to sports and business. This accolade is a testament to his visionary leadership at Nike, a company he transformed into an industry leader.

On November 18, 2004, Phil Knight made a monumental $105 million donation to Stanford Graduate School of Business, marking one of the largest individual donations to a business school. The donation aimed to fund a new campus and other academic endeavors.

On June 30, 2012, Phil Knight retired as chairman of Nike, stepping down from his active role in the company he co-founded. However, he remained involved in strategic decisions and maintained an honorary chairmanship, ensuring his legacy continued.

On April 26, 2016, Phil Knight published 'Shoe Dog,' his memoir chronicling the history of Nike. The book provides an inside look at the challenges and successes he faced in building one of the world's most influential companies, becoming a bestseller.

In 2018, Phil Knight's foundation, the Knight Foundation, made a $500 million donation to the University of Oregon for the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact, illustrating his commitment to education and innovation.