December 17, 2003 – Shane Cooper, founder of DeFeet International, Inc., has been named one of four North Carolina entrepreneurs to receive the first-ever Lone Eagle Award, presented by AdvantageWest North Carolina, Western North Carolina's regional economic development organization. The Lone Eagle award is given to local business leaders who have made a positive impact on their communities.

“The textiles industry in North Carolina has taken some tremendous hits from global economic pressures,” said Sam Powers, Vice President, Industrial Marketing, AdvantageWest. “We're very proud to have an innovative company like DeFeet that has created new jobs for textiles workers here in the USA while so many other companies have shut down or shifted operations overseas.”

The son of an English hosiery-machine importer, Cooper combined his passion for sports and his understanding of sock production to create the Air.E.Ator” cycling sock, DeFeet's inaugural product, back in 1992. For the past decade, Cooper has partnered with his wife Hope Cooper, Paul Willerton, Greg Demgen and legendary cyclist Greg LeMond to build DeFeet into a major manufacturer of socks and apparel for multisport athletes.

“The 2003 Lone Eagle award really belongs to all our loyal employees,” Cooper said. “We are proud to have made an impact in Western North Carolina, and we are proud to produce a 100-percent 'made-in-the-USA' product.” It's no accident that the company, which has grown to include more than 30 employees, is located in Hildebran, N.C., adjacent to the Blue Ridge Mountains. More than 470 miles of picturesque mountain-bike trails with elevation gains of up to 6,000 feet surround the DeFeet headquarters, providing the inspiration and motivation behind their innovative designs. Every DeFeet product is developed first for use by the most hardcore professionals, ensuring that every outdoor athlete – from world champions to weekend warriors – will reap the maximum performance benefits. For more information, visit www.defeet.com.