PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC – The Waccamaw Library on Thursday, October 13, presents Dr. Ian McLaren for the for the Author’s Table. McLaren presents his book, How Umbro Got Stoned. Born in Northern Ireland, Dr. McLaren earned a PhD in Physics from Queens University Belfast. He immigrated to Boston to join the research faculty at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
According to McLaren, “How Umbro Got Stoned focuses on some of the humorous memories experienced by the Umbro staff as the business grew and flourished in Greenville. There was a time when a senior manager tried to shoot an errant bat which had managed to enter the office area through a broken window.”
McLaren maintained an active membership with the Boston Rugby Club while pursuing his research at MIT. The desire for proper athletic uniforms led him to start a company importing authentic rugby uniforms. As the company grew and expanded, Dr. McLaren searched for a US manufacturing resource. The business was sold to Stone Manufacturing Company in Greenville, South Carolina. Dr. McLaren, “with three employees, moved from Massachusetts to Greenville to continue growing the business and over the following decade Umbro soccer gear, and especially Umbro shorts, grew to become the leading sportswear brand in the USA.” In the end, the company was unable to keep up with the growth and sold the business to a European group. Dr. McLaren and his wife, Goffinet, retired to the Litchfield area ten years ago.
Author’s Table is free and open to the public. The event takes place at the Waccamaw Library on Thursday, October 13 at 6:30pm in the DeBordieu Auditorium at 41 St. Paul Place in Pawleys Island. Contact sbremner@gtcounty.org to reserve a seat.
