Herb Biddle, Former NBS President and NSGA Board Member, Passes Away

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (July 29, 2024) – Herb Biddle, the former President of the Nation’s Best Sports (NBS) buying group and a former member of the National Sporting Goods Association Board of Directors, passed away July 1 at age 82.

Biddle was part of the sporting goods industry for 27-plus years, according to a release from NBS, and served as NBS President from September 30, 1993 to October 31, 2003. Biddle also served on the NSGA Board from 1996-2000.

Biddle started his sporting goods career as a salesman for The Shakespeare Company in Wisconsin and worked his way up to become vice president of the company in South Carolina. He was also president of Cannon (now S&K Products Company) in Michigan before going to NBS.

Herbert Dale Biddle, Jr., was born on September 4, 1941 in Elgin, Illinois and was the oldest of five children and the only son to Herbert Dale and Lucille “Lucy” Biddle. Herb Biddle lettered in football and graduated from Butler University in Indianapolis and earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Indiana University. He also wrote and taught online course for Ivy Tech Community College in Indiana and was the executive vice president at the KHK Group before retiring several years ago.

Herb is survived by his wife of 42 years, Bessanne, his sons Jim (Susan) Kiefer and Clay (Suz) Biddle, daughters Philion Biddle and Bridgette (Mike) Bumpas and seven grandchildren. The family plans to have a Celebration of Herb’s Life in Fort Worth, Texas at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that for those who are able instead make a donation to Wounded Warrior Project, Sandy Hook Promise or National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Please click here to view Herb’s personal webpage. Arrangements have been entrusted to Filbrandt Chapel-Starks Family Funeral Home at (269) 637-0333