Hurley, Bob (1955 – )

Cheerful but razor-sharp surfwear magnate from Huntington Beach, California; Billabong USA president from 1983 to 1998; founder and CEO of Hurley International. Hurley was born (1955) in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada, the son of an air force staff sergeant, and spent his early years growing up on or near military bases in Rhode Island, Texas, and Japan. He moved with his family in 1963 to Orange County, and began surfing at age 13.

At 21, Hurley learned how to shape surfboards, and in 197...