He started the backpack company in 1967, while still in college, and went on to revolutionize the way students carry books.

He brought lightweight packs to millions of students and transformed the way they carried their textbooks to school.

Take the school backpack, for example. Its invention can be traced to one man, Murray McCory, who died last month. McCory founded JanSport in 1967 with his future wife (Jan, the company’s namesake).

After the death of Murray McCory, a founder of the outdoors equipment company JanSport, readers recalled how their backpacks served them on life’s journeys. By Amisha Padnani Amisha Padnani is ...