Rick Gering (L) and Art Juedes (R). Image courtesy: WAOW TV
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU-WAOW) – The founders of Eastbay are showcasing a book titled The Book of Eastbay, detailing how they brought a local company to the rest of the United States, showing all the ups and downs along the way.
Art Juedes and Rick Gering say they started with a simple idea of selling shoes to local track athletes.
“Going to a national track meet in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, when I was in college, and just saw all kinds of different shoes that we had no access to. Came back and said, ‘let’s try to find a way to bring access to the kids’,” Gering told WAOW TV.
The brand blossomed into a catalog that connected athletes to sports gear they had never seen before, and is credited with helping in the rise of Air Jordan, and even provided professional athletes with footwear.
“Roger Clemens, their people called. He needed a new pair of baseball spikes for the All-Star game. I believe they were brown Puma with a right pitching toe size 13, and we had to get them out to Boston so he could pitch the game,” said Juedes.
The new book takes the reader back to the beginning, explaining what sparked young Art and Rick to sell shoes to young athletes.
“The book is partly a little bit about the industry growing up and what it went through and how it went through it. It really should be a good fast read of some really exciting things that happened,” said Gering.
What’s most unique in this story is the relationship between Art and Rick. The two were born two days apart at St. Mary’s hospital in Wausau, in June of 1952, and were placed in bassinets next to each other in the hospital nursery.
They now use the book to reflect on their connection to Wausau and one another.
“I don’t know if we would have started the business had we not grown up with the really strong sports culture in Wausau,” said Gering. “I’ve always trusted Rick. Rick’s ideas, Rick’s instincts. I think our whole relationship has always been on trust,” said Juedes.
To read the prologue, visit bookofeastbay.com. The proceeds of the book go to a childhood cancer fund called Little Warriors, for an effort to help children like Art’s great niece who experienced cancer.
While the building that once held Eastbay may be closed, the authors now tell a new story. They’ll be at the Janke Book Store on Saturday, April 11th, from 1-3 P.M. for a pre-launch signing of their book.
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