He spoke with an Indiana drawl and loved to smoke a pipe. Charles "Chuck" Taylor has one of the most famous names in basketball history. Taylor's name adorns the Converse basketball shoe, the most successful selling basketball shoe in history. Since its inception in 1931, more than 600 million pair have been sold. Taylor, who walked into Converse Chicago sales office in the summer of 1921 complaining of sore feet, persuaded Converse executives to create a shoe especially for basketball. In 1932, Converse added Taylor's signature to its trademark five-pronged star shoe in 1932, and sent its new "Basketball Ambassador" on the road to promote the sneaker. Initially, "Chucks" were only available in high or low canvas in either black or white, and sold only in sporting goods stores. The Chuck Taylor "All-Star" became the official basketball shoe of Olympic competition from 1936 until 1968. Taylor, who was a two-time All-State selection at Columbia High School and a journeyman jumpshooter for 11 professional seasons, was an entrepreneur and involved in all facets of basketball promotion. In 1922, on the urging of coach Gus TeBell,Taylor organized the first basketball clinic at North Carolina State University, and continued to teach basketball throughout the world. His next "demonstration," as Taylor phrased it, was for Fielding Yost at the University of Michigan, then to Columbia University and next for Hall of Famer Doc Carlson at Pittsburgh. Taylor's first "demonstration" outside the United States was in Mexico (1941), then to Hawaii (1950) and Puerto Richo (1950), North Africa (156), Greece (1956), England (1956), Belgium (1956) and Germany (1956). He toured extensively in South America in 1957. In 1922, Taylor developed the popular Converse Basketball Yearbook and it was upgraded to a larger size in 1928. In 1932, Taylor personally selected All-America teams. Taylor died on June 26, 1969 in Port Charlotte, FL of a heart attack.

His name adorns the Converse basketball shoe, the most successful selling basketball shoe in history (since its inception in 1931, more than 600 million pair have been sold)

Walked into Converse's Chicago sales office in the summer of 1921 complaining of sore feet and persuaded Converse executives, and company founder Marquis Convrese, to create a shoe specifically for basketball

Converse added Taylor's signature to its trademark five-pronged star shoe in 1932

Converse sent its new basketball ambassador on the road to promote the sneaker driving a white Cadillac with the trunk filled with shoes

Initially, "Chucks" were only available in high or low canvas in either black or white, and sold only in sporting goods stores; since then, available in 25 different colors, shapes, sizes, patterns

Chuck Taylor "All-Star" became official basketball shoe of Olympic competition (1936-6

Organized first basketball clinic at North Carolina State University (1922) and drove coast-to-coast selling basketball and basketball shoes.

Developed the popular Converse Basketball Yearbook (1922)

Personally selected All-America teams (1932)

Enshrined in Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame, the second living person to receive this honor (195