How It All Began Rynopaks was founded in the fall of 1996, at a time when violence at schools was worrying districts across the country. Brandon Steele, who was a freshman at Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas, heard rumors that the Tyler Independent School District was going to require see-through back packs as part of their stepped-up security plans. Working with a friend and his father, an engineer, the two students designed a clear backpack. The next step was to work with a local duffel bag manufacturer to produce the packs. The Tyler schools never adopted the see-through pack

requirement, but Steele was determined to bring the product to market. Academy Sports and Outdoors, based in Houston, Texas, agreed to distribute them, and the new RynoPaks clear backpacks were launched in May, 1997. They were an immediate hit.

What Next? Steele recognized that schools needed a source for custom tote and athletic bags - featuring each school's logo and color. Steele approached Massey and Brown, a very strong regional sporting goods retailer. Massey and Brown not only booked the custom bags, but also introduced Steele