It started with a handshake between two visionary Oregonians - Bowerman and his University of Oregon runner Phil Knight. They and the people they hired evolved and grew the company that became Nike from a U.S. based footwear distributor to a global marketer of athletic footwear, apparel and equipment that is unrivalled in the world.,It started with a handshake between two visionary Oregonians - Bowerman and his University of