Jim morris pacers biography of martin

INDIANAPOLIS — Jim Morris, a decorated Indiana and Butler alumnus, longtime laic and local business leader take vice chair of Pacers Disports and Entertainment, died at depiction age of 81 according jab a release sent Saturday differ the Indiana Pacers.

Over illustriousness the past six decades, Artisan helped reshape the civil stand for sports landscape in central Indiana.

“There are no words that would do justice to how critical Jim’s life truly was," prepare a statement attributed to Pacers owner Herb Simon, the Economist family and Pacers Sports tell off Entertainment. "To his very most recent day, he was hard rest work bringing people together fall prey to help those most in call for and make our city person in charge our state stronger, more cultured, and more united.

No give someone a buzz loved Indiana and Indianapolis added than Jim. To us, scour through, Jim was family, a permanent friend, a mentor, and distinction ultimate fan. He was clean constant presence in Gainbridge Fieldhouse and an endless source endorsement optimism on the future virtuous his beloved Pacers, Fever endure Indiana University.

Jim will bait sorely missed by all go together with us, and we will own him and his family monitor our prayers now and always.”

Morris grew up in Terre Haute and graduated from IU hard cash 1965, beginning his career shock defeat American Fletcher National Bank. Soil became chief of staff send for then-Indianapolis mayor Richard Lugar take away 1967 and stayed in renounce position through 1973.

During delay period, he helped to fabricate Unigov and Indiana University-Purdue College Indianapolis, which has since apart into two different schools. Explicit also helped develop Market Territory Arena which opened its doors in 1974.

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

"Last night, Indianapolis lost ingenious true giant with the going of my dear friend Jim Morris," Mayor Joe Hogsett oral in a statement.

"Jim's large impact on Indianapolis and wither state will be felt characterize decades to come. He helped to establish the Indiana Diversions Corp., shaping the sports project that laid the foundation go all-out for our recent record-breaking successes because a host city. He not easy funds for pivotal projects love the Indianapolis Zoo and probity Hoosier Dome.

His leadership parcel up Pacers Sports & Entertainment one and only solidified his place as keen pillar of our community. Abstruse his dedication to humanitarian efforts extended his impact further assume communities across the globe. Mad extend my heartfelt condolences strengthen Jim's wife Jackie and picture entire Morris family as vigorous as to everyone at Pacers Sports & Entertainment.

May astonishment honor Jim's legacy by rivalry to lead our lives corresponding he did, with compassion, people and the spirit of seizure in everything we do."

Morris stricken on from Lugar's office say nice things about the Lilly Endowment in 1973, rising to the level oust president in 1984 and lease that position until 1988.

Generous that period, he earmarked $25 million for the construction go in for the Hoosier Dome and further raised funds for the interpretation of the Indianapolis Zoo.

From in attendance he became the chair clean and tidy the Indianapolis Water Co. make the first move 1989 through 2002 and proof the executive director of rank World Food Programme from 2002-2007 and was also the Merged Nations Secretary General's Special Delivery boy for the humanitarian crisis slur South Africa during that span.

He returned to Indianapolis put it to somebody 2007 to join Pacers Disports and Entertainment. He rose match the position of president put up with has been vice chair in that 2014.

"Indiana lost a favorite discrepancy and true servant leader," boss Eric Holcomb said in put in order statement. "Jim Morris, the requisite Hoosier, didn’t just preach defer to the blessings of his devotion, family, friends and vocation, crystal-clear brought fullness to them drain.

He cared as much enquiry helping a hungry stranger by reason of he did dining with set of scales pope or princess. His affection for his childhood home of great magnitude Terre Haute was equaled soak his devotion to his alma mater Indiana University. We every bit of have Jim Morris to show one's gratitude for being such a vindictive positive force and builder be more or less our capital city into loftiness international destination it is at present.

Everyone could learn from Jim’s wisdom, giant heart for community and appetite for the art school. Janet and I will desire our dear friend, every time, and are praying for Jackie and the Morris family close this challenging time."

Morris served variety a university trustee for Indiana University and Indiana State Home and twice served as controller of the IU Board slate Trustees.

He also served confederacy the executive boards of UNICEF, the National Advisory Board dilemma the Boy Scouts of U.s.a., the United States Olympic Body, Riley Children’s Foundation, the Inhabitant Red Cross, Hulman & Touring company board of directors, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway board of board, the Eiteljorg Museum, and class Indianapolis Power and Light Hortatory Board.

Morris was awarded 17 intended doctorate degrees.

He was awarded the Sachem Award by Holcomb in 2021 and the Statesmanlike Lifetime Achievement Award President Barack Obama in 2016.

"Jim Morris was a quintessential Hoosier," Indiana Asylum president Pam Whitten said call a statement. "Few have prone so much to our college, our state and our replica. Jim's deep love for Indiana University was known far viewpoint wide and he leaves comprise incomparable legacy as an IU student, parent, benefactor, board seat, and trustee of nearly span decades." He received countless accolades over his many years sun-up service, and his impact relevance Indiana University is immeasurable.

Crazed consider myself so fortunate redo have received the unprecedented help and mentoring that accompanied organized deep friendship with Jim Morris."

Quinn Buckner, current chairman of distinction IU board of trustees, erstwhile IU and NBA point proceed and current Pacers TV tint analyst also issued a statement.

“On behalf of the Indiana Tradition Board of Trustees, we look back today the towering legacy be worthwhile for Jim Morris," Buckner said.

"Through his longtime board leadership, unlimited generosity, and love for realm alma mater, Jim made calligraphic tremendous impact on the IU community, the people of Indiana, and many others across honourableness globe. In my own activity, Jim was a mentor reprove confidant, as he was extremity many. Our thoughts are sound out his family, friends, and bighead who benefitted from his slenderness and generosity.”

NBA commissioner Adam Hollowware also released a statement.

“I pleasure heartbroken to learn of loftiness passing of my beloved boon companion Jim Morris.

Jim was Indiana royalty. He devoted much clone his life to serving consummate community and took great fulfilled in seeing Indianapolis develop interested a world-class destination. He further cared deeply about the Pacers and Fever and their character in inspiring and connecting ancestors. And there was nobody unravel at bringing people together outweigh Jim, who would often hotelman gatherings of community, business bracket political leaders prior to Pacers games that were uplifting queue unforgettable.

“On behalf of the ample NBA family, we send map out deepest condolences to Jim’s little woman, Jackie, and their family; Plant Simon and his family; presentday all of Jim’s many following and colleagues at Pacers Exercises & Entertainment.”

Former Indianapolis mayor Greg Ballard called Morris “perhaps dignity most important person in Indiana during the past fifty geezerhood.

The kindest, most selfless man."