When Boston Celtics great Bill Russell died on July 31 at the age of 88, the basketball world lost a legend. Russell still holds the record for winning the most NBA Championships, collecting 11 rings from 1957 to 1969 while winning five league MVP awards.

The league recognized Russell’s storied career by retiring his number 6 league-wide, the first time such an honor has been given to any player in NBA history. This season, every jersey and every home court will feature a clover-shaped logo bearing the number six.

If you’re a basketball fan, you may already know all that. But did you know that, in the mid 1960’s, when Bill Russell wanted a line of sneakers designed just for him, he looked to Bristol and Bristol Manufacturing on Buttonwood Street, which was once one of the largest manufacturers of canvas footwear in the country?

True story — and one that is sure to be remembered by many.

“I was such a young girl, I just remember that he was so proud,” said Jane Centazzo of her father Anthony "Bucky" A. Mattos, who died last year at the age of 94. Mattos designed the “Bill Russell” model for Bristol Manufacturing.

“He would always talk about that, and how he got to meet all the Celtics back in the day,” said son David Mattos.

An April 11, 1966 Sports Illustrated story by John Hanlon tells the story of a manufacturing company that was beset with competition and decided to do something about it.

“Bristol elected to do battle by adding to its output a high-quality line of athletic and recreation shoes, starting with one for basketball that would, it was hoped, be endorsed by a ‘name’ player,” wrote Hanlon.

“The first mild surprise was that Russell, who has a reputation for not selling his name casually, agreed to talk it over and also agreed to come to Bristol to do so. Accordingly, on a July day in 1964, a delegation from Bristol, led by William H. Smith, president, and Salvatore V. Gianola, factory manager, met to have lunch with Russell and his business manager at a Bristol restaurant.”

Russell told the men that he had not been able to find a shoe that could stand up to his flat-footed landings. “Then he went on to tell (them) that this wasn't merely a matter of his putting a name on a product: it had to be a product that he had a hand in developing."

Russell told the Bristol Manufacturing reps that he wanted them to produce a shoe that would cost the company about $3,000 to develop with no assurance that we would endorse it.

According to Hanlon, Gianola said, “Why did we have to pick this guy? Why didn't we go for someone we'd mail off a letter to asking for his endorsement and he'd write back and say it was O.K., just send the money? Oh, no, we had to get Russell."

That was where Mattos came in. He was 39 years old at the time, and in 20 years has worked his way up to product manager.

“Tony filled the demands by building up the rubber on the sole about 1/16th of an inch at the main points of contact: heel, toe, and ball of the foot. For traction he developed from a concept proposed by Russell a series of small triangles pointing forward; these were in place of the standard suction cups found on most sneakers. Flexibility was gained by scoring the sole laterally across the arch area. Comfort And shock resistance were gained by building up the innersole and the impact areas with a special product of Bristol's that expands on vulcanization into thousands of tiny air cushions.”

According to Hanlon, the sneakers were delivered to Russell in August, 1965, and he got 21 games out of them. He made some suggested changes, and it went into full production in 1966. They cost $7.95 a pair.

Russell’s interactions with the staff of Bristol Manufacturing and other locals — including the late Francis “Tut” Jamiel of Jamiel’s shoe world — left many with lasting memories and mementoes on that time. One memento — a pair of vintage Converse All-Star sneakers, recently emerged from a resident’s closet. She tells the story of getting the sneakers from Tut, who received them from Russell himself on a visit to Jamiel’s. About 28 years ago, the resident was at Jamiel’s when Tut was dismantling the display and he gave them to her. “I just thought they were an interesting part of history and I’ve stored them away all this time,” she said.

Sadly, any hopes that they might have been an actual pair of game-worn sneakers were quickly dashed by the fact that the sneakers were a massive size 16; Russell was “only” a size 14.

Still, memories of brushing shoulders with the legendary basketball star remain.

“My father told a funny story about the time he was in Russell’s car,” said Centazzo. “My father wasn’t tall, 5’8”, maybe, and he said even though the Russell was driving he had to practically sit in the back seat, he was so tall…he thought that was so funny.”

We would love to hear from any Bristolians with memories of meeting Bill Russell or working on his sneaker design back in the day! Please email Christy Nadalin at cnadalin@eastbaymediagroup.com or mail to 1 Bradford St., Bristol, RI 02809.