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Vans co-founder dies aged 72

Staff Writer
Originally Appeared In

James Van Doren, co-founder of Vans shoes, has passed away at the age of 72. Van Doren co-founded Vans, originally known as the Van Doren Rubber Co., with his older brother Paul in 1966 in Anaheim, California.

James Van Doren, co-founder of Vans shoes, has passed away at the age of 72. Van Doren co-founded Vans, originally known as the Van Doren Rubber Co., with his older brother Paul in 1966 in Anaheim, California.


The shoes became wildly popular among the skateboarding culture that exploded in southern California in the early 1970s, the company has also been a long running sponsor of the Warped Tour and countless musical acts. He ran the company from 1976 to 1984.