Nov 27, 2007 12:47 pm US/Pacific
Creator Of Gatorade Sports Drink Dies
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (CBS) ―
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The University of Florida says Dr. James Robert Cade, who was instrumental in developing Gatorade, has died at age 80.
CBS
One of the men responsible for one of the most popular sports drinks in the world has died.
The University of Florida says Dr. James Robert Cade, who was instrumental in developing Gatorade, has died at age 80.
In 1965, Cade, along with Dr. Dana Shires, Dr. H. James Free and Dr. Alejandro de Quesada were approached by a UF assistant coach who asked them figure out why so many of the players were being affected by the heat and what could be done about it.
In their research, the doctors found the players were losing fluids and electrolytes through sweat and burning large amounts of carbohydrates for energy that were not being replaced. To combat these effects, the team created a concoction they called 'Gatorade,' a precisely balanced carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage that would help Gator players replace key components lost through sweating and exercise.
Soon after making Gatorade available during games and practices, the Gators began outlasting their opponents in the heat and had their first winning season in more than a decade. In 1967, the team not only finished 9–2, they also won the Orange Bowl for the first time ever in the history of the school.
Word about Gatorade spread outside of Florida as colleges from across the U.S. began ordering it for their teams.
According to the Gatorade Co., in 1969, Gator's Coach Ray Graves suggested to the Kansas City Chiefs that they use Gatorade. The Chiefs were so impressed with the effect the drink had on the team, they kept it on their sidelines throughout the entire season which ended with a suprising Superbowl win against the Minnesota Vikings.
Over the years, more NFL teams began making Gatorade available on the sidelines of their games and practices, and in 1983, Gatorade became the official sports drink of the NFL—a title it holds to this day.
Cade continued to work at the university, where he taught medicine and conducted research, until the age of 76.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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