Rudolf Dassler

Born in Herzogenaurach in 1898, Rudolf joined his younger brother Adolf's shoe company in 1924, and together they ran Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik. The partnership survived into World War II, but a feud erupted afterward and the brothers severed ties in 1948. Rudolf struck out alone, first naming his new venture "Ruda" before settling on Puma — borrowed from the Quechua word for cougar. He ran the company until his death in 1974, never reconciling with the brother whose company, Adidas, would remain his permanent rival across the same hometown streets.