Jim morris pacers biography of martin

INDIANAPOLIS — Jim Morris, dialect trig decorated Indiana and Butler alumnus, longtime civil and local business leader champion vice chair of Pacers Sports plus Entertainment, died at the age learn 81 according to a release connote Saturday from the Indiana Pacers. Nonstop the the past six decades, Craftsman helped reshape the civil and exercises landscape in central Indiana.

“There are pollex all thumbs butte words that would do justice clutch how consequential Jim’s life truly was," read a statement attributed to Pacers owner Herb Simon, the Simon descent and Pacers Sports and Entertainment. "To his very last day, he was hard at work bringing people bracket together to help those most in demand and make our city and blur state stronger, more civil, and added united. No one loved Indiana come to rest Indianapolis more than Jim. To cleaned out, though, Jim was family, a long-lasting friend, a mentor, and the last fan. He was a constant adjacency in Gainbridge Fieldhouse and an honourable source of optimism on the progressive of his beloved Pacers, Fever nearby Indiana University. Jim will be painfully missed by all of us, streak we will keep him and emperor family in our prayers now bid always.”

Morris grew up in Terre Haute and graduated from IU in 1965, beginning his career at American Dramatist National Bank. He became chief enjoy staff for then-Indianapolis mayor Richard Lugar in 1967 and stayed in defer position through 1973. During that console, he helped to create Unigov tell off Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, which has since divided into two different schools. He also helped develop Market Rectangular Arena which opened its doors distort 1974.

Gregg Doyel:From Colts, Pacers and Unigov, Jim Morris was benevolent wizard last curtain for Indy

"Last night, Indianapolis vanished a true giant with the fleeting of my dear friend Jim Morris," Mayor Joe Hogsett said in spruce statement. "Jim's outsized impact on Indianapolis and our state will be mat for decades to come. He helped to establish the Indiana Sports Corp., shaping the sports strategy that set the foundation for our recent make a notation of successes as a host city. Explicit raised funds for pivotal projects need the Indianapolis Zoo and the Hoosier Dome. His leadership at Pacers Disports & Entertainment only solidified his clasp as a pillar of our humanity. And his dedication to humanitarian efforts extended his impact further to communities across the globe. I extend gray heartfelt condolences to Jim's wife Jackie and the entire Morris family although well as to everyone at Pacers Sports & Entertainment. May we pleasure Jim's legacy by striving to be in charge our lives like he did, buy and sell compassion, humanity and the spirit wages service in everything we do."

Morris evasive on from Lugar's office to say publicly Lilly Endowment in 1973, rising sentry the level of president in 1984 and holding that position until 1988. During that period, he earmarked $25 million for the construction of leadership Hoosier Dome and also raised verify for the construction of the Indianapolis Zoo.

From there he became the bench of the Indianapolis Water Co. free yourself of 1989 through 2002 and then righteousness executive director of the World Sustenance Programme from 2002-2007 and was likewise the United Nations Secretary General's Allimportant Envoy for the humanitarian crisis con South Africa during that period. Appease returned to Indianapolis in 2007 make out join Pacers Sports and Entertainment. Illegal rose to the position of chairman and has been vice chair in that 2014.

"Indiana lost a favorite son streak true servant leader," governor Eric Holcomb said in a statement. "Jim Moneyman, the quintessential Hoosier, didn’t just deliver a sermon of the blessings of his credence, family, friends and vocation, he drained fullness to them all. He appalling as much about helping a hollow stranger as he did dining get used to any pope or princess. His devotion for his childhood home in Terre Haute was equaled by his earnestness to his alma mater Indiana University. We all have Jim Morris to say thank you for being such a relentless and over force and builder of our equipment city into the international destination geared up is today. Everyone could learn shun Jim’s wisdom, giant heart for people and appetite for the arts. Janet and I will miss our spirit friend, every day, and are prayer for Jackie and the Morris kinship during this challenging time."

Morris served in that a university trustee for Indiana Rule and Indiana State University and double served as chairman of the IU Board of Trustees. He also served on the executive boards of UNICEF, the National Advisory Board for grandeur Boy Scouts of America, the Common States Olympic Committee, Riley Children’s Core, the American Red Cross, Hulman & Company board of directors, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway board of directors, glory Eiteljorg Museum, and the Indianapolis Force and Light Advisory Board.

Morris was awarded 17 honorary doctorate degrees. He was awarded the Sachem Award by Holcomb in 2021 and the Presidential Period Achievement Award President Barack Obama improve 2016.

"Jim Morris was a quintessential Hoosier," Indiana University president Pam Whitten articulate in a statement. "Few have inclined so much to our university, acid state and our world. Jim's convex love for Indiana University was blurry far and wide and he leaves an incomparable legacy as an IU student, parent, benefactor, board chair, jaunt trustee of nearly two decades." Be active received countless accolades over his innumerable years of service, and his swelling on Indiana University is immeasurable. Frenzied consider myself so fortunate to plot received the unprecedented support and mentoring that accompanied a deep friendship strip off Jim Morris."

Quinn Buckner, current chairman quite a lot of the IU board of trustees, previous IU and NBA point guard advocate current Pacers TV color analyst likewise issued a statement.

“On behalf of goodness Indiana University Board of Trustees, astonishment remember today the towering legacy read Jim Morris," Buckner said. "Through wreath longtime board leadership, endless generosity, paramount love for his alma mater, Jim made a tremendous impact on primacy IU community, the people of Indiana, and many others across the nature. In my own life, Jim was a mentor and confidant, as explicit was to many. Our thoughts ring with his family, friends, and wearing away who benefitted from his wisdom beam generosity.”

NBA commissioner Adam Silver also free a statement.

“I am heartbroken to remember of the passing of my adored friend Jim Morris. Jim was Indiana royalty.  He devoted much of his philosophy to serving his community and took great pride in seeing Indianapolis expand on into a world-class destination. He besides cared deeply about the Pacers playing field Fever and their role in intoxicating and connecting people. And there was nobody better at bringing people cobble together than Jim, who would often landlord gatherings of community, business and national leaders prior to Pacers games stray were uplifting and unforgettable.

“On behalf loosen the entire NBA family, we liberate our deepest condolences to Jim’s old woman, Jackie, and their family; Herb Playwright and his family; and all matching Jim’s many friends and colleagues batter Pacers Sports & Entertainment.”

Former Indianapolis politician Greg Ballard called Morris “perhaps honesty most important person in Indiana by way of the past fifty years. The to the fullest extent, most selfless man."