Nocona Athletic Goods Company
Encyclopedia
Nocona Athletic Goods Company (originally known as Nocona Leather Goods Company) was founded in 1926 by the Storey family in Nocona, Texas
. In 1934, The Nokona baseball glove
was trademarked (spelled with a "k" when the United States Patent and Trademark Office
would not allow the name of an incorporated town to be registered). Today, Nocona Athletic Goods is one of a handful of companies that still manufacture baseball gloves in the United States
.
Keeping with tradition, the factory has always been family oriented and America-centered. The line of succession has seen the presidency of the company pass to Rob Storey, a grandson of the first company glove maker, Robert E. (Bob) Storey. The elder Storey played baseball
for Rice University
before becoming President of the Nocona Leather Goods Company in the 1930s.
Trying to offset slumping sales of wallet
s, purses
and belts
during the Depression
, he turned to making baseball gloves. The business turned around, and within six years, Nocona was only making sports equipment. The name was changed to Nocona Athletic Goods Company in 1956.
Bobby Storey, Robert's son managed the company from 1973 to 1991 and is still Chairman of the Board
.
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, Texas, who assemble each glove by hand from more than 20 individual pieces of leather. 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.
Nokona Athletic Goods outfits slow pitch softball
players all the way to professional baseball players with hand stitched and laced ball gloves. The company offers glove repair when a customer notices unusual wear and tear. 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 18, 2006, the 80 year old factory burned to the ground creating a loss of over $5,000.000. The fire was started by an overheated box fan
. The 60000 square feet (5,574.2 m²) building burned for eight hours before the fire was extinguished.
Factory owners promised to rebuild the plant. Employees shifted through the ashes and salvaged what they could, especially the custom leather cutting dies
for the Nokona gloves. Unfortunately, employees could not find any of the wooden baseball bats. The operation moved into an old boot
factory in Nocona that had shut down. Ten days after the fire, Nocona Athletic Goods was back in production, and none of their employees lost any wages.
Past MLB players who have endorsed Nokona include infielder Todd Walker
and pitcher Jorge Sosa
.
Current Houston Astros
reliever Jeff Fulchino
uses a Black Nokona AMG-1200 while pitching.
Nocona, Texas
Nocona is a city along U.S. Highway 82 and State Highway 175 in Montague County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,198 at the 2000 census.-History:...
. In 1934, The Nokona baseball glove
Baseball glove
A baseball glove or mitt is a large leather glove that baseball players on the defending team are allowed to wear to assist them in catching and fielding balls hit by a batter, or thrown by a teammate.-History:...
was trademarked (spelled with a "k" when the United States Patent and Trademark Office
United States Patent and Trademark Office
The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that issues patents to inventors and businesses for their inventions, and trademark registration for product and intellectual property identification.The USPTO is based in Alexandria, Virginia,...
would not allow the name of an incorporated town to be registered). Today, Nocona Athletic Goods is one of a handful of companies that still manufacture baseball gloves in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Keeping with tradition, the factory has always been family oriented and America-centered. The line of succession has seen the presidency of the company pass to Rob Storey, a grandson of the first company glove maker, Robert E. (Bob) Storey. The elder Storey played baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
for Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
before becoming President of the Nocona Leather Goods Company in the 1930s.
Trying to offset slumping sales of wallet
Wallet
A wallet, or billfold, is a small, flat case that is used to carry personal items such as cash, credit cards, identification documents , photographs, business cards and other paper or laminated cards...
s, purses
Handbag
A handbag, or purse in American English, is a handled medium-to-large bag that is often fashionably designed, typically used by women, to hold personal items such as wallet/coins, keys, cosmetics, a hairbrush, pepper spray, cigarettes, mobile phone etc....
and belts
Belt (clothing)
A belt is a flexible band or strap, typically made of leather or heavy cloth, and worn around the waist. A belt supports trousers or other articles of clothing.-History:...
during the Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, he turned to making baseball gloves. The business turned around, and within six years, Nocona was only making sports equipment. The name was changed to Nocona Athletic Goods Company in 1956.
Bobby Storey, Robert's son managed the company from 1973 to 1991 and is still Chairman of the Board
Chairman of the Board
The Chairman of the Board is a seat of office in an organization, especially of corporations.Chairman of the Board may also refer to:*Chairman of the Board , a 1998 film*Chairmen of the Board , a 1970s American soul music group...
.
The Nokona Athletic Goods business plan has historically emphasized buying raw materials in the United States, while employing highly skilled leather
Leather
Leather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...
crafters from the small town of Nocona, Texas, who assemble each glove by hand from more than 20 individual pieces of leather. The small north Texas
North Texas
North Texas is a distinct cultural and geographic area forming the central-northeastern section of the U.S. state of Texas. North Texas is generally considered to include the area south of Oklahoma, east of Abilene, and north of Waco...
town produces an abundant supply of talented workers because it is the location of several other factories that manufacture leather products.
Nokona Athletic Goods outfits slow pitch softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
players all the way to professional baseball players with hand stitched and laced ball gloves. The company offers glove repair when a customer notices unusual wear and tear. Numerous major league
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
professionals endorse the Nokona brand of glove. The company also produces many other types of athletic equipment, including football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
pads and helmets.
On July 18, 2006, the 80 year old factory burned to the ground creating a loss of over $5,000.000. The fire was started by an overheated box fan
Fan (mechanical)
A mechanical fan is a machine used to create flow within a fluid, typically a gas such as air.A fan consists of a rotating arrangement of vanes or blades which act on the air. Usually, it is contained within some form of housing or case. This may direct the airflow or increase safety by preventing...
. The 60000 square feet (5,574.2 m²) building burned for eight hours before the fire was extinguished.
Factory owners promised to rebuild the plant. Employees shifted through the ashes and salvaged what they could, especially the custom leather cutting dies
Die (manufacturing)
A die is a specialized tool used in manufacturing industries to cut or shape material using a press. Like molds, dies are generally customized to the item they are used to create...
for the Nokona gloves. Unfortunately, employees could not find any of the wooden baseball bats. The operation moved into an old boot
Boot
A boot is a type of footwear but they are not shoes. Most boots mainly cover the foot and the ankle and extend up the leg, sometimes as far as the knee or even the hip. Most boots have a heel that is clearly distinguishable from the rest of the sole, even if the two are made of one piece....
factory in Nocona that had shut down. Ten days after the fire, Nocona Athletic Goods was back in production, and none of their employees lost any wages.
Past MLB players who have endorsed Nokona include infielder Todd Walker
Todd Walker
Todd Arthur Walker is a former Major League Baseball infielder.-College:Walker attended LSU where he led the Tigers to the 1993 national championship. He also earned the 1993 College World Series Most Outstanding Player award. In 2006, Walker was elected to the LSU Hall of Fame...
and pitcher Jorge Sosa
Jorge Sosa
Jorge Bolivar Sosa is a Major League Baseball pitcher, who is currently a free agent. Sosa stands at 6'2" tall and reportedly weighs 218 pounds...
.
Current Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
reliever Jeff Fulchino
Jeff Fulchino
Jeffrey Paul Fulchino is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. His rise to prominence came under the tutelage of Edward Poisson, head baseball coach of Trinity High School in Manchester, New Hampshire. Fulchino is the pride of Hollis, New Hampshire. He is the first Hollis...
uses a Black Nokona AMG-1200 while pitching.