EMPOWERING COACHES WITH
INNOVATIVE EQUIPMENT
COMPANIES
Since 1918 Gill has engineered and manufactured equipment that has allowed the world's best athletes to reach ever-increasing levels of performance.
Indoor or outdoor, new installation or replacement equipment - since 1868, Porter Athletic has been recognized as the world leader in quality and precision built athletic equipment.
The Litania Story
In 1990 I joined the then Harry Gill Company as the Controller. The company was struggling financially but I was a promotional pole vaulter for the company and thought it would be a good transition job from my competitive life to the real world. By Christmas time of 1992 the Company was on the verge of bankruptcy. In fact, the bank told us that they were “calling” our note (large long term debt) the next day if we did not find a buyer. Vince Atkins, a local real estate investor, stepped in and signed his name for the company backing its debt. I went to be fired by Vince because I knew that he would clean house but instead he made me the president and CEO. I was 29 years old and had no idea how to turn an ailing company around. It was at that time that Litania was birthed in my heart. I cried out to God in prayer and desperation and He answered me. Not only did he save the company but He blessed it wildly. In ten years we tripled its sales volume and consistently hit net operating income of 10% of sales.
When Vince hired me to be CEO he said that if I would turn the company around he would sell it to me in ten years. This seemed ridiculous at the time. I remember thinking “who would want to buy the Titanic”. Ten years came and I was entertaining thoughts of moving to a larger company. Even though I could not even afford the down payment, Vince wanted to sell the company to me and did in July of 2002.
The next year Vince built us a new factory in Champaign. We left our 85 year home in Urbana for our new factory.
In 2006, Porter Athletic was for sale. It also had been ailing for a few years and needed a suitor to purchase it and turn it around. Gill acquired the assets of Porter and signed a four year lease on its factory in Chicago. In 2008, plans were made to expand the Gill factory to accommodate the move of Porter to Champaign. In 2009 that became a reality.
Since becoming CEO of Gill in 1992 I have had a “list of prayers” on my wall. Litania is not just a name it is why I am here. Without God’s intervention at Gill and now at Porter there are no companies. He has faithfully answered my list of prayers…….Litania.
- David Hodge, CEO
CULTURE
MISSION
VISION
VALUES
We Empower Coaches
with Innovative Equipment
Litania Sports Group is presently comprised of Gill Athletics, Porter Athletic, PowerMax, and Upper90. Corporate headquarters for Litania is in Champaign, Illinois at its newly expanded 225,000 square foot factory and office space. Litania manufacturers approximately 75% of the products it sells in its Champaign factory with the balance of products being made in Asia. It distributes its products via 500 team & specialty dealers, national accounts and custom construction dealers in the US. Litania also sells internationally through dealers in most developed countries.
We seek to expand our family of companies with other top name brands in their respective athletic or facility markets. Gill Athletics was founded in 1918 and has been the top brand in track and field for much of its existence. LSG would like to add other athletic equipment brands to its fold. Porter Athletic was founded in 1868 and has been a leader in the installed gymnasium equipment industry for decades. Other installed equipment companies for indoor or outdoor stadiums are natural add-ons for the systems LSG has created to support the Porter brand.
With an objective of acquiring entities that are a strategic fit within specific industry sectors, Litania Sports Group has a variety of financing options available. The company is well capitalized and maintains a generous credit facility with one of the top 50 banks in the U.S. LSG routinely operates with excess capacity on its line of credit and has ample access to additional fixed term financing. The company also enjoys the backing of a mezzanine finance company and has a standing commitment from a venture capital fund in order to finance strategic acquisition opportunities.
Genuine… in caring for our customers,
our dealers, and each other
Innovative… in delivering service
and developing products
Quality… in everything we do
Growth… is a priority
Achievement… we get things done
Litania Sports Group is an employees-first company. We believe that envisioned, engaged, and happy employees provide customers the highest quality products in a timely manner. Employees not only participate in teams to solve problems but are encouraged to post problems they see in any area or product via a company wide forum. Managers at all levels are evaluated in part by the employees they manage. Every employee at LSG has a bonus program that enables them to benefit from their personal success as an employee and the company as a whole. Our ultimate philosophy is to treat our customers as we wish to be treated.
LITANIA SPORTS GROUP
Empowering Coaches with Innovative Equipment
© 2017 Litania Sports Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
CONTACT
217-367-8438
601 Mercury Drive
Champaign, IL. 61822
217-367-8438
217-367-8438