Love Behind the T-shirt Lable

When Don Craig asked a friend to make that first Old Guys Rule bumper sticker to honor his dad, he didn't realize what he started.

 Bobbie and Doug Craig, Don, and brother Tom at San Onofe, circa 1960.

Don grew up in Hermosa Beach in the 50s, and learned to surf from his father, Doug, who was president of the San Onofre Surf Club. Doug was a hero to Don and his childhood pals. Reflecting on youthful weekends at San Onofre he says, “It was a kid’s nirvana... I feel real lucky to have grown up in that lifestyle.”

As the boys grew older they came into their own in the surfing world. Don turned pro in the 60s and competed for Bing Copeland, Dewey Weber, and the Hap Jacob team. He was hired as Quiksilver's first sales rep and introduced Rip Curl in U.S. market.

 Don and legendary surfer, Greg Noll.

But as the boys matured they also came to appreciate the wisdom and counsel of Doug and his friends, Ross McAdam and Fred Casserio. In Don’s circle these elders became "the three wise men,” mentoring younger surfers, dispensing wisdom, and supporting their aspirations.

 Don and fellow inductee, Mike Purpus, inducted onto the Hermosa Beach Surfer's Walk of Fame, April, 2009.

 

“They were sharp, successful men,” recalls Don, “and all my friends used ask them for worldly advice about family, finances, buying property, et cetera. They were the inspiration for Old Guys Rule.”

   Doug Craig surfing at 79.

That first bumper sticker design was just a longboard running through the stacked words Old Guys Rule. “People kept asking me for more,” Don says. A t-shirt soon followed.

“2003 was the first year we introduced Old Guys Rule to retail.  We started off in the surf shops with surf designs. But over the years we
diversified and now sell many different designs to people from all walks of life. The car category sells well, golf and fishing have also been very successful, all based on the kinds things grown men like to do."

Last year Don introduced a new line featuring cowboy icon, John Wayne. "We support t he John Wayne Cancer Foundation.. benefiting a lot of people by contributing to this worthy cause. It has surpassed our expectations. The designs and slogans speak of wisdom and courage, the reasons that 'old guys will always rule.' "