Nocona Athletic Goods Company
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Nocona Athletic Goods Company (originally know as Nocona Leather Goods Company) was founded in 1926 by the Storey family in Nocona, TX. In 1934, The Nokona baseball glove was trademarked (spelled with a "k" when the U.S. Patent Office would not allow the name of an incorporated town to be registered). Today, Nocona Athletic Goods is the only company that still manufactures baseball gloves in the United States.
The line of succession has seen the presidency of the company pass all the way to a grandson of the first company glove maker Robert E. (Bob) Storey. Keeping with tradition, the factory has always been family oriented and America-centered.
The Nokona Athletic Goods business plan has historically emphasized buying raw materials in the United States, while employing highly skilled leather crafters from the small town of Nocona, TX. The small north Texas town produces an abundant supply of talented workers because it is the location of several other factories that manufacture leather products.
The company offers glove repair when a customer notices unusual wear and tear.
Nokona Athletic Goods outfits slow pitch softball players all the way to professional baseball players with hand stitched and laced ball gloves. Numerous major league professionals endorse the Nokona brand of glove. The company also produces many other types of athletic equipment, including football pads and helmets.
On July 21, 2006, the 80 year old factory burned to the ground creating a loss of over $5,000.000. Factory owners promised to rebuild the plant; subsequently, they moved operations to other facilities in Nocona. In a short time after the fire, Nocona Athletic Goods was in full production, and none of their employees lost any wages.
[edit] References
- McLeod, Gerald E. "Daytrips." The Austin Chronicle. 22 February 2002. <http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/column?oid=oid%3A84710>.
