A former Nike president and CEO, who was best known as an aide to U.S. President John F. Kennedy, has died at the age of 88.
Richard "Dick" K. Donahue rose to prominence as Kennedy's assistant in the late '50s and early '60s, later becoming a lawyer in Massachusetts and earning a chair on the state's Board of Bar Overseers.
Eventually, Donahue had made his way to Nike in the '70s where he used his political prowess to to help the brand overcome some early hurdles such as U.S. customs fees, notes The Washington Post.
"If it weren't for JFK, I probably wouldn't be associated with Nike at all," Donahue once said.
After helping Nike become an international player in its early days, Donahue was promoted to president and COO in 1990 by Phil Knight. By 1994, he had stepped down from the position, but stayed on as vice chairman of the board until 2008.
Although he might not be a household name to the average sneakerhead, Donahue's reputation for being a problem solver helped Nike power through some of its earliest hiccups and position itself as the dominant international brand we've come to know. From president's aide to the president of Nike, his impact can be felt to this very day.
R.I.P. to a true pioneer.
