Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Famer Rusty Saunders Passes Away 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CONTACT: 
Marty Maciaszek, Director of Communications and Team Dealer Division 
mmaciaszek@nsga.org 
(847) 296-6742, ext. 1260 

DOWNERS GROVE, ILLINOIS (December 14, 2024) – Working for people active in sports was more appealing to Robert “Rusty” Saunders than the action of working on Wall Street. Saunders, who spent 60-plus years in the industry and was inducted into the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame in 2013, passed away on December 8. He was 88. 

Saunders played basketball at the University of Dayton in the 1950s and the New York City native returned home to start his career as a pension administrator at a large bank. Three years later he entered the sporting goods industry and became a prominent figure who was connected to some of the biggest names in sports. He also was the moderator of the NSGA Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit (now the NSGA Leadership Conference) from 2000-13 and a 12-year member of the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame Committee. 

“Rusty was truly a larger-than-life figure with a tremendous passion for our industry,” said Matt Carlson, NSGA President & CEO. “He had such an impact in so many areas and I greatly appreciated his work and support of NSGA over the years. We know many people in the industry are saddened by the news of Rusty’s passing and we extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.”  

Saunders spent his first 13 years in the sporting goods industry with the MacGregor-Brunswick Corporation. He directed the advisory staff for product development, promotions and personal appearances for legendary athletes such as Henry Aaron, Pete Rose, Frank Robinson and Joe Morgan in baseball, Johnny Unitas, Joe Namath, Don Shula and Mike Ditka in football and Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Johnny Miller and Tom Weiskopf in golf. 

Saunders also served as MacGregor’s east coast regional sales manager of its team division, pro golf and retail areas and as the national accounts and premium manager. As the Vice President of Merchandising, he was responsible for research and development, product managers, advertising and promotions. 

While Saunders was with MacGregor the company introduced the industry-changing Nicklaus Golden Bear 3 through 8 iron-and-bag golf set, premium leather baseball gloves in red, blue and green colors and the MacGregor 100MH polycarb-padded football helmet, which became the No. 2 seller in a market dominated by a non-padded helmet. He was recognized four times as MacGregor’s leading sales producer and product developer. 

Saunders then became an Executive Vice President and COO of two regional retail chains with long heritages owned by Washington, D.C.-based Recreation Products Retailing. He took Brendamour’s in Cincinnati, Ohio and Hollywood Sports Plaza in California out of financial trouble to profitability and positioned Brendamour’s for a successful sale. 

He also started and ran the Saunders & Associates Sales Agency for 19 years before selling it in 1999. His agency covered five Midwest states and was twice named the Sales Agency of the Year for Brooks. Saunders also was Brooks’ Salesman of the Year three times and he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sporting Goods Agents Association (SGAA). 

Saunders remained active in the industry after he retired and was the principal of Saunders Consulting. He was a founding partner of SportsOneSource and a moderator of Coach and Connect to mentor and educate agents, served on the boards of Implus Corporation and PHIT America and founded the Get in the Game Careers program. 

Saunders and his wife Christine (McNally) Saunders were married for 64 years and had five children, Laura, Bob, Steve, Sue and Ken, 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A funeral mass to celebrate his life will be held at 10 a.m., on Saturday, January 4, 2025 at The Community of the Good Shepherd, 8815 E. Kemper Road, Cincinnati, Ohio, with a Celebration of Life to immediately follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Rusty Saunders’ memory. 

About the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame 

NSGA created the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame in 1955 to honor sporting goods pioneers, innovators and leaders, while recognizing and encouraging continued excellence in the industry. Since the first induction in 1956, 185 men and women have been inducted. For more information on the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame, please visit https://www.nsga.org/hall-of-fame/.  

About the National Sporting Goods Association 

Since 1929, the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) has been the leading voice and go-to resource for the sporting goods industry. NSGA helps the industry grow its businesses through research, advocacy and networking. For more information about membership or NSGA’s products and services, please visit www.nsga.org.