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James Van Doren was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, on March 20 1939.
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James van Doren, born March 20 1939, died October 12 2011
Dies of Cancer. -
When James reached the eigth grade, he realized he didn't like school and promptly left.
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During the early sixties, Randy’s had become the third largest manufacturer of shoes in the US.But they had a factory in Gardenvale California that was losing a million dollars a month. Paul Van Doren, his brother Jim Van Doren and long time friend Gordon Lee were given the task of straightening out the factory, and after 8 months they turned the west coast factory around and it was doing better than the one back in Boston.
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On March 16, 1966, at 704 E. Broadway, in Anaheim, California, brothers Paul Van Doren, James Van Doren, and three other partners opened up their first store.
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In 1979 the Vans slip-on shoe is introduced.
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Although Vans core shoes were selling well, the wide range of products that the company now offered had drained the company's resources and, with Vans unable to overcome its debt, the company was forced to file for bankruptcy in 1983.
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In 1984 Vans opens a manufacturing plant in Orange, California
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Vans had paid back all creditors and emerged from bankruptcy.
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In 1988 Vans original owners sold the company to an investment banking firm. The company has been sold several times since; most recently for $396 million in 2004 to Greensboro, N.C.-based VF Corporation.
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Vans closed their Orange, California factory and began manufacturing footwear overseas in 1994. In 1994, Vans sponsored the Inaugural Triple Crown series which developed into the Vans Triple Crown series. In 1998, Vans opened a 46,000-square-foot (4,300 m2), indoor-outdoor Vans Skate park at the Block in Orange County.
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In 1995 Vans shuts down manufacturing facilities in Orange
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1998 sees Vans open the first of its kind, a 46,000 square-foot indoor-outdoor Vans Skate park at the Block in Orange County.
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In 1998 Vans skateboarding park opens in Orange, California.
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In 1999 Vans joins with Pacific Sunwear to form VanPac, a joint venture to market skateboarding apparel.
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In 2000, Forbes recognized Vans as one of "America’s Best Small Companies."
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In 2001, Forbes recognized Vans as one of "America’s Best Small Companies."
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In 2002, Vans opened an enclosed skatepark in the Festival Bay Mall on International Drive in Orlando, Florida.
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In 2004, Vans launched the Vans "Customs" on its website. This allowed customers to log onto the Vans website and design their own pair of Vans Slip-ons, mid-cuts, or high-tops. Nowadays, it allows for the design of custom Era, Slip-On, Old Skool, and 106 Vulcanized shoes.
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In 2006 Vans celebrates 40 years at the heart of youth culture.
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James Van Doren dies on of cancer October 12, 2011
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Vans have been a selling shoe for about 46 years!
