James L. Easton, 1935-2023, Sporting Items Innovator and Legend, died on December 4th, 2023, at his house in Los Angeles, CA. After a number of debilitating strokes, he fought an extended battle for restoration the identical manner he had lived, with focus, dedication, dignity, and laborious work – he continued to be an inspiration to all that knew him. He was 88 years previous.
Jim was born in Los Angeles on July 26, 1935, son of archery innovators Doug and Mary Easton. Doug Easton had constructed a enterprise making extremely crafted, customized archery gear, in style on the time with Hollywood luminaries akin to Errol Flynn. From childhood, Jim labored together with his mom and father of their archery store.
Jim was decided to attend school and labored a full-time job at Douglas Plane whereas incomes his engineering diploma at UCLA (B.S. ’59). He accomplished U.S. Military Reserve coaching at Fort Ord and after commencement, he rejoined the household archery manufacturing gear enterprise.
Since 1972 Jim was CEO of Jas. D. Easton, Inc.(JDE), the worldwide sporting items firm began by his father Doug Easton in 1922. The corporate developed the aluminum arrow shaft in 1946. Utilizing the Easton proprietary manufacturing know-how developed by his father, and his dedication to make merchandise that actually enhanced the efficiency of the person, Jim modified the high-performance sports activities gear trade.
Jim led the corporate in its revolutionary motion from wooden and metal sports activities gear to light-weight, high-strength, aluminum and carbon composite merchandise. Easton arrows have dominated aggressive, leisure and bowhunting archery ever since. The favored “Inexperienced Easton” (1979) and later-model Easton baseball and softball bats have dominated the school recreation for many years. After Wayne Gretzky switched to Easton (1990), the vast majority of NHL gamers began utilizing the brand new Easton aluminum—and in 2004 the carbon composite—hockey stick.
Jim grew to become CEO and Chairman of Easton-Bell Sports activities after the 2006 merger of Easton Sports activities, Bell, Giro, and Riddell. He remained Chairman of JDE, the world’s main archery gear firm—proprietor of Easton Technical Merchandise (arrows, equipment, and business tubing) and Hoyt (bows and equipment).
Jim left his mark on world sport, not simply with merchandise, but additionally with world sport management on the highest ranges. Jim’s curiosity in sports activities and enterprise led to his appointment as Archery Commissioner, Head of Know-how and Mayor of the Athletes Village at UCLA throughout the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Jim additionally organized and managed the 1983 FITA World Archery Championships. He produced all however one of many Olympic Video games Technical Archery movies from 1976 to 2004. As President of the World Archery Federation for 16 years from 1989 to 2005, he innovated new competitors codecs making archery thrilling and television-friendly, and throughout the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Video games, one of many most-watched sports activities. His deep involvement within the sport of archery is credited with it being designated as a core sport within the Olympic Video games.
In 1994, Jim was co-opted as Member of the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) and has served as vice chairman, Govt Board Member and have become an Honorary IOC Member in 2015.
Jim was a member of america Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) Board of Administrators for over 20 years. Since its inception, he has served on the board of LA84, the Legacy Basis of the Los Angeles Olympic Video games.
Jim’s dedication to archery is evidenced by the institution of the Easton Sports activities Improvement Foundations (The Easton Foundations) created in 1982 to supply excellence in management, services, applications, coaching and schooling for the expansion and improvement of sports activities associated to Easton merchandise with a particular emphasis on archery.
This philanthropy has made a world-wide influence on archery by way of the constructing and help of archery facilities world wide together with the Easton Archery Middle of Excellence in Chula Vista, California, and quite a few Archery Facilities in america. Funding to World Archery’s Improvement Basis has enabled worldwide applications and development of the World Archery Excellence Centre in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Jim was inducted into the Archery Corridor of Fame in 1997, the U.S. Olympic Corridor of Fame in 2012, and obtained the U.S. Olympic Committee Olive Department Achievement Award (2012) and the USOC Olympic Torch award (2016). In 2014, he obtained the Utah Sportsman of the 12 months award and in 2016, the Utah Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Different awards embrace the Little League Distinguished Ambassador Award, NFAA Compton Medal of Honor, Sporting Items Corridor of Fame, and Bowhunters Corridor of Fame.
Jim by no means forgot his collegiate roots. His philanthropic initiatives have benefited UCLA engineering, enterprise, drugs, and sports activities. He was a recipient of the UCLA Medal for his achievement as a world chief in enterprise and philanthropy, the best honor bestowed to a person by the College of California at Los Angeles.
We have a good time the life that was Jim Easton’s. A lifetime of laborious work. Genius. Generosity. Integrity. Ardour. A loving husband, father, and grandfather. A modest, but relentless, seeker of excellence, Jim Easton will probably be significantly missed by the many individuals that have been touched by him and had admiration for him, and whose sports activities and lives have been made extra productive and enjoyable due to him.
Jim is survived by his spouse of 29 years, Phyllis, son Greg, daughter Lynn, three grandchildren (Charlotte, James, and Elaine), stepdaughters Sloan and Stacy, 5 step-grandchildren (Logan, Joey, Gavin, Jaden, and Daxton), and brother Robert Easton.
The household will have a good time Jim’s life at a non-public memorial observance.
Reminiscences of Jim might be shared at – https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/los-angeles-ca/james-easton-11572500
Items honoring Jim’s life might be made to The Easton Foundations or to UCLA Basis by visiting the pages beneath:
The Easton Foundations: https://www.esdf.org/
UCLA: https://giving.ucla.edu/marketing campaign/donate.aspx?Fund=10141C
