Dan Wieden, founding father of company Wieden + Kennedy and author of Nike’s legendary “Simply Do It” line, has died age 77.

His company tweeted the information with the phrases, “Thanks Dan, for throwing the doorways extensive open for individuals to reside as much as their full potential. We are going to miss you a lot.”

Born and bred in Portland, Oregon, Wieden based the company in 1982 with David Kennedy, who died a 12 months in the past. The pair, who met at McCann-Erickson Portland, grew Wieden + Kennedy into a global community of eight workplaces, using 1,500 individuals worldwide. The company is owned by a belief to make sure its continued independence.

Rival company Goodby Silverstein tweeted, “If promoting may have holy individuals, Dan Wieden was definitely considered one of them. He spoke to these of us properly past his personal firm, telling us it was vital to do issues that had by no means been completed earlier than, and convincing us all that these issues have been already within us.”

Wieden obtained the President’s Award from D&AD, the lifetime achievement award from Clio, and in 2012 obtained the Lion of St. Mark award from the Cannes Lion Worldwide Competition of Creativity.

The household have requested that any presents be made to Caldera Arts, a Portland-based charity that was initially arrange by Wieden in 1996. It to convey younger individuals with restricted alternatives along with inventive professionals to make artwork and be in relationship with the pure world.

Wieden is reported to have died peacefully at his dwelling in Portland.