Oboz Mourns The Loss of Its Founder John Connelly

On Thursday, August 22, Oboz Footwear founder and outdoor industry luminary, John Connelly, passed away following years battling various cancers. This Friday, Oboz is honoring John’s legacy with a noon-time, “A walk in John’s shoes”, company hike. Oboz encourages anyone who knew him or has ever worn a pair of Oboz to also salute him with a noon hike on Friday.

“John was a visionary, the ultimate non-conformist, and a forever optimist,” said Amy Beck, Oboz Footwear president. “He will always be a part of Oboz, from devising name our, Outside + Bozeman, to our commitment to community, trees, and this beautiful place that we get to call home.”

Born in 1947, Connelly began his career in the outdoor industry at a Richmond, VA, outdoor shop and over the following 40 years worked with over 15 outdoor footwear brands. In 2007 he founded Oboz and built it into one of the leading outdoor brands in the market. In 2018 he sold the company to one of the brand’s original retailer partners, New Zealand’s Kathmandu.

Connelly was a serial entrepreneur who loved sports car racing almost as much as creating innovative footwear. He combined his two passions in his most recent venture, Chicane footwear.

“The Oboz family sends love and condolences to his family and friends,” added Beck. “We’ll be sure to toast John with a little Agwa on Friday.”

**Agwa is a bright green, one might say Oboz-green, Bolivian liqueur that has become an Oboz tradition for toasts at events and celebrations.