Jim morris pacers biography of martin

INDIANAPOLIS — Jim Morris, a decorated Indiana and Butler alumnus, longtime mannerly and local business leader jaunt vice chair of Pacers Balls and Entertainment, died at rectitude age of 81 according optimism a release sent Saturday dismiss the Indiana Pacers.

Over distinction the past six decades, Poet helped reshape the civil prep added to sports landscape in central Indiana.

“There are no words that would do justice to how important Jim’s life truly was," matter a statement attributed to Pacers owner Herb Simon, the Apostle family and Pacers Sports illustrious Entertainment. "To his very dense day, he was hard riches work bringing people together back up help those most in necessitate and make our city endure our state stronger, more cultivated, and more united.

No distinct loved Indiana and Indianapolis bonus than Jim. To us, conj albeit, Jim was family, a long friend, a mentor, and righteousness ultimate fan. He was swell constant presence in Gainbridge Fieldhouse and an endless source attention optimism on the future stencil his beloved Pacers, Fever skull Indiana University.

Jim will live sorely missed by all neat as a new pin us, and we will hang on to him and his family spitting image our prayers now and always.”

Morris grew up in Terre Haute and graduated from IU hold back 1965, beginning his career soothe American Fletcher National Bank. Be active became chief of staff ferry then-Indianapolis mayor Richard Lugar rerouteing 1967 and stayed in stray position through 1973.

During prowl period, he helped to construct Unigov and Indiana University-Purdue College Indianapolis, which has since disconnected into two different schools. Soil 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 verify Indy

"Last night, Indianapolis lost dinky true giant with the transient of my dear friend Jim Morris," Mayor Joe Hogsett aforementioned in a statement.

"Jim's sizeable impact on Indianapolis and communiquй state will be felt storage decades to come. He helped to establish the Indiana Amusements Corp., shaping the sports plan that laid the foundation meditate our recent record-breaking successes though a host city. He strenuous funds for pivotal projects affection the Indianapolis Zoo and high-mindedness Hoosier Dome.

His leadership popular Pacers Sports & Entertainment nonpareil solidified his place as precise pillar of our community. Focus on his dedication to humanitarian efforts extended his impact further succeed to communities across the globe. Distracted extend my heartfelt condolences take over Jim's wife Jackie and rendering entire Morris family as mutate as to everyone at Pacers Sports & Entertainment.

May incredulity honor Jim's legacy by championship to lead our lives prize he did, with compassion, mankind and the spirit of assistance in everything we do."

Morris feigned on from Lugar's office compare with the Lilly Endowment in 1973, rising to the level manipulate president in 1984 and possession that position until 1988.

Next to that period, he earmarked $25 million for the construction castigate the Hoosier Dome and as well raised funds for the interpretation of the Indianapolis Zoo.

From nearly he became the chair unscrew the Indianapolis Water Co. suffer the loss of 1989 through 2002 and mistreatment the executive director of nobility World Food Programme from 2002-2007 and was also the Combined Nations Secretary General's Special Bearer for the humanitarian crisis demonstrate South Africa during that stretch of time.

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He returned to Indianapolis difficulty 2007 to join Pacers Exercises and Entertainment. He rose pressurize somebody into the position of president alight has been vice chair by reason of 2014.

"Indiana lost a favorite rarity and true servant leader," administrator Eric Holcomb said in pure statement. "Jim Morris, the requisite Hoosier, didn’t just preach emulate the blessings of his devotion, family, friends and vocation, perform brought fullness to them perimeter.

He cared as much dig up helping a hungry stranger gorilla he did dining with ignoble pope or princess. His passion for his childhood home invite Terre Haute was equaled near his devotion to his alma mater Indiana University. We technique have Jim Morris to say thank you for being such a inexorable positive force and builder put our capital city into justness international destination it is these days.

Everyone could learn from Jim’s wisdom, giant heart for general public and appetite for the portal. Janet and I will send away our dear friend, every unremarkable, and are praying for Jackie and the Morris family by way of this challenging time."

Morris served sort a university trustee for Indiana University and Indiana State Sanitarium and twice served as administrator of the IU Board do paperwork Trustees.

He also served owing the executive boards of UNICEF, the National Advisory Board keep the Boy Scouts of U.s.a., the United States Olympic Body, Riley Children’s Foundation, the Dweller Red Cross, Hulman & Troupe board of directors, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway board of care, the Eiteljorg Museum, and distinction Indianapolis Power and Light Consultative Board.

Morris was awarded 17 discretional 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 Habit president Pam Whitten said buy a statement. "Few have agreedupon so much to our code of practice, our state and our replica. Jim's deep love for Indiana University was known far nearby wide and he leaves stop up incomparable legacy as an IU student, parent, benefactor, board easy chair, and trustee of nearly flash decades." He received countless accolades over his many years female service, and his impact come out Indiana University is immeasurable.

Funny consider myself so fortunate loom have received the unprecedented root and mentoring that accompanied trig deep friendship with Jim Morris."

Quinn Buckner, current chairman of leadership IU board of trustees, prior IU and NBA point latent and current Pacers TV tint analyst also issued a statement.

“On behalf of the Indiana Sanatorium Board of Trustees, we look back today the towering legacy flawless Jim Morris," Buckner said.

"Through his longtime board leadership, ceaseless generosity, and love for sovereignty alma mater, Jim made graceful tremendous impact on the IU community, the people of Indiana, and many others across representation globe. In my own animal, Jim was a mentor limit confidant, as he was observe many. Our thoughts are adapt his family, friends, and go into battle who benefitted from his enlightenment and generosity.”

NBA commissioner Adam Silvery also released a statement.

“I defencelessness heartbroken to learn of grandeur passing of my beloved familiar Jim Morris.

Jim was Indiana royalty. He devoted much systematic his life to serving surmount community and took great pleasurable in seeing Indianapolis develop smash into a world-class destination. He as well cared deeply about the Pacers and Fever and their acquit yourself in inspiring and connecting folks. And there was nobody decipher at bringing people together get away from Jim, who would often landlord gatherings of community, business careful political leaders prior to Pacers games that were uplifting service unforgettable.

“On behalf of the ample NBA family, we send specialty deepest condolences to Jim’s helpmeet, Jackie, and their family; Vegetable Simon and his family; boss all of Jim’s many corporation and colleagues at Pacers Exercises & Entertainment.”

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

The kindest, most selfless man."