"Mark Fore & Strike Matchbook"

Sz: 2" x 2"

Described by Ivy Style as "The Tropical Abercrombie & Fitch"--a reference to the old-school A&F that was a true sporting goods store, patronized by Hemingway--Mark, Fore, and Strike were old-school purveyors of classic Ivy clothing with an emphasis on Ivy resprtwear

As its name suggests the firm was associated with sporting goods from its beginning, with its logo consisting of a golf club, a fishing rod, and a sporting gun arranged in a triangle around its name.

Founded in 1951 in the WASPy enclave of Delray Beach, Florida by Persior Frazer, the company was co-led from 1953 by Frazer and Bill Tiernan. (Frazer left in 1966.) Tiernan quickly established its reputation for outstanding custom service. A customer of the MFS store in Naples, Florida had fallen in love with a dress but was disappointed that it was not available in her size. Not to worry, noted the store manager, as there was one available in the Delray store that would fit. Alas, the customer responded, she needed it that evening--and the 130 mile distance between the stores would prevent it arriving in time. Hearing of this Tiernan--a veteran WWII pilot with a Distinguishing Flying Cross--personally flew the dress from Delray to Florida.

Bill died in 1973, and in 1976 his son Michael took over, and led MFS into the next stage of its development--catalogs.

Just like the catalogs of the original Banana Republic the catalogs of MFS were beautiful, filled with evocative descriptions of the clothing and the adventures that one would have dressed in it. By the 1980s business was booming, with the Official Preppy Handbook and the Classic Revival spearheaded by Ralph Lauren and costume movies such as *Chariots of Fire* driving sales skywards.

Also, the success of MFS did not last as the company turned its attention to more fashion-forward items (such as the Boston proper) to chase sales. Mark Fore and Strike was shuttered in 2002.