Rudolf Dassler (Paperback)

Rudolf Dassler (March 26, 1898 in Herzogenaurach, (Germany) - October 27, 1974 in Herzogenaurach) was the German founder of the sportswear company PUMA and the older brother of Adidas founder, Adolf "Adi" Dassler. The brothers were partners in a shoe company Adi started Gebruder Dassler Schuhfabrik (Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory) and Rudi joined in 1924, but became rivals following World War II and started their own companies in 1948.Initially calling the new company "Ruda" (Rudolf Dassler), it soon changed to its present name of PUMA. Puma is the word for cougar in German and in other languages.Under his direction, Puma remained a small provincial company. Only under the direction of his son, Armin Dassler, did it become the worldwide known company it remains today.