Collegiate Pacific traces its roots back to 1904, when Galen Tilden, a manager at The Tilden Store in Ames, Iowa, saw an opportunity to manufacture college pennants. What started as a small project within the store’s alteration department quickly grew, and in 1913, the company became an independent business under the name Tilden Manufacturing Company (TMC). By the late 1920s, TMC had expanded its product lines to include felt banners, pillows, athletic blankets, and even band uniforms.

In 1931, ownership transitioned to Chevalier “Chev” and Clint Adams, who rebranded the company as Collegiate Manufacturing Company (CMC). Under Chev’s leadership, CMC became one of the largest and most respected manufacturers of collegiate memorabilia in the U.S., selling nationwide and expanding into custom apparel and novelty items. During World War II, the company shifted production to support the U.S. Army, manufacturing ponchos and raincoats—a contribution that earned them the prestigious Army-Navy “E” Award for Excellence in 1944.

By the 1950s and 1960s, CMC dominated the market for college pennants, mascot banners, and felt novelties. The company expanded beyond Iowa, acquiring Pacific Athletic Co. in California in 1956 and opening a Roanoke, Virginia facility in 1963, rebranding as Collegiate-Pacific. This move positioned them as a transnational leader, with production centers strategically located to serve colleges across the country.

The 1980s brought challenges as global manufacturing trends shifted, leading to the sale of many of Collegiate-Pacific’s assets. However, the Roanoke, VA facility remained, and in the 1990s, it was purchased by Bill Webster, ensuring that high-quality, American-made pennants and banners would continue to be produced under the Collegiate Pacific name. In 2025, Bill Webster took on a partner, Danielle Napier, to ensure the future of our company.

Today, Collegiate Pacific remains the gold standard in felt pennants, banners, and memorabilia, crafting products for nearly 200 college bookstores across the U.S. as well as Major League Baseball through the Mitchell & Ness brand.