James L. Easton

James L. Easton was the International Olympic Committee vice president from 2002-06 and served in numerous positions in the Olympic Movement during his professional career. His father was an archer, and Easton later served as president of the World Archery Federation from 1989 to 2005. After graduating from UCLA, Easton worked briefly for the Douglas Aircraft Company before joining his father’s company, Jas. D. Easton. With his brother, Bob, Easton developed aluminum ski poles and aluminum baseball bats, both new forms of sports equipment that had previously been wooden. Easton served as the chairman, chief executive officer and president of Jas. D. Easton throughout his business career. He also involved himself largely in philanthropy, serving as chairman of the Easton Foundations and serving on the board of visitors of the UCLA Anderson School of Management. Easton donated $11 million to endow the Easton Technology Management Center at Anderson in 2015. Easton was inducted as part of the Olive Branch Award.