Not only does Nike stand supreme as perhaps the world's most widely recognized and respected brand of athletic shoes for men, women, boys, and girls, but it also offers an outstanding range of choices in style and sport. Whatever the model, style, or sport, Nike shoes features some of the world's top designs, highest-quality materials, and most advanced technological innovations. In the 1950s, University of Oregon’s Bill Bowerman began to design and create shoes for his runners. Soon, he joined forces with former U of O runner and Stanford MBA Phil Knight to manufacture shoes in Japan under the Blue Ribbon Sports brand. They changed the name to Nike in 1972, while also introducing the Nike Swoosh logo. From that moment on, Nike has continued to strengthen its position as one of the world's preeminent makers of athletic shoes for pros and amateurs alike.