Rudolf Dassler
Rudolf "Rudi" Dassler | |
|---|---|
| Born | 29 April 1898 |
| Died | 27 October 1974 (aged 76) |
| Occupation | Founder of Puma |
| Spouse | Friedl Dassler (née Strasser) |
| Children | Armin Dassler |
| Relatives | Fritz Dassler (brother) Marie (sister) Adolf Dassler (brother) Horst Dassler (nephew) |
Rudolf "Rudi" Dassler (29 April 1898 – 27 October 1974) was a German cobbler, inventor and businessman who founded the sportswear company Puma.
He was the older brother of Adidas founder Adolf "Adi" Dassler. The brothers were partners in a shoe company Adolf started, Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik ("Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory"). Rudolf joined in 1924. However, after a feud developed between them following World War II, the brothers went separate ways and started their respective companies in 1948.
Initially calling the new company "Ruda" (a portmanteau for Rudolf Dassler), it was soon changed to its present name of Puma. Puma is the Quechua word for cougar; from there, it went into German as well as other languages.