The legacy of the late Greg Beckwith in the world of sporting goods is now being carried on through an industry-wide effort to honor a man who left us way too early, but made quite an impact on everyone he came in contact during his long career.

Greg Beckwith – “Beck” to everyone who knew him – passed away suddenly a little more than a year ago — just a few days after many of his colleagues had been with him at the NSGA Leadership Conference in Arizona. At the time of his passing Beckwith was an account executive at S&S Activewear, his latest position in a professional journey that began with AJD Cap Company, Sports Specialties and Nike before he joined Adidas in 1998. Over a 23-year tenure at Adidas, he ascended to the role of sales manager for the Eastern Region, playing a pivotal role in the company’s growth and success, impacting many with his positivity along the way. In 2022, he joined S&S Activewear, continuing to leverage his expertise to influence the industry.

Now to continue his legacy a group of his family, friends and colleagues – including many from his time as the basketball player and announcer at his alma mater the University of Richmond – formed a charity aptly named The Beckwith Foundation. Its goal: To raise money for scholarships to provide opportunities for rising juniors and seniors in college to gain first-hand experience in the sporting goods industry.

Or, as the Foundation explains in its mission statement: “To carry forward his powerful legacy by supporting students who embody his values. The Foundation provides scholarships to deserving student-athletes, helping them pursue their higher education goals.”

Additionally, the Foundation looks to offer internships that help open doors for young professionals in the sporting goods industry, “fostering a more inclusive and dynamic future for the field.”

“Greg was lucky to have a job that he loved, that allowed him to combine his passion for sports and people and his tremendous leadership skills,” Beck’s wife, Julie McClellan Beckwith, tells Team Insight. “Greg was so proud of his work in the sporting goods industry and the impact he had on others by just being himself.  He was a mentor, role model and friend to many and he truly cared about the friends he made along the way.”

Beck’s long-time friend and colleague, Kendall Whitley, is one of the driving forces behind the Foundation. (In an appropriate move, Whitley, who headed up the Team Sports Division at Nation’s Best Sports at the time of Beckwith’s death, has since moved over to S&S Activewear to fill his friend’s position as VP-team sales.)

“It’s no greater honor than to carry on the legacy of my best friend by providing a path forward for the next generation in our industry that exemplifies the character and passion,” Whitley, who unveiled the Beckwith Foundation during a presentation to the industry at the 2025 NSGA Leadership Conference in Florida in May, tells Team Insight.

Going forward, through the many partners of the NSGA and the Greg Beckwith Foundation, the internship will give student-athletes knowledge they can only receive from experts in the field as well as opportunities to network with top companies and mentors. “We aim to diversify the sporting goods industry and connect talented and passionate individuals with the best in the sporting goods industry,” Whitley explains.

Whitley’s goal is to have a number of those student-athletes attend NSGA Leadership Conferences in order to extend their education and networking for future positions. “Beck had a dream of making the sporting goods industry accessible for all.”

“We are so appreciative of NSGA and its members for honoring Greg and his legacy through their support of the Greg Beckwith Foundation and Greg’s vision,” adds Julie Beckwith. “Through your commitment, NSGA and its members will help the Greg Beckwith Foundation perpetuate The Beck Effect.”