INDIANAPOLIS — James. T. “Jim” Morris, the vice chairman of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, has died at 81.
Multiple people who had the honor of working close to Morris responded to his passing.
“There are no words that would do justice to how consequential Jim’s life truly was,” wrote Herb Simon, owner of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, alongside the Simon family and the Sports & Entertainment division in a press release.
“To his very last day, he was hard at work bringing people together to help those most in need and make our city and our state stronger, more civil, and more united,” the statement continued. “No one loved Indiana and Indianapolis more than Jim. To us, though, Jim was family, a lifelong friend, a mentor, and the ultimate fan. He was a constant presence in Gainbridge Fieldhouse and an endless source of optimism on the future of his beloved Pacers, Fever and Indiana University. Jim will be sorely missed by all of us, and we will keep him and his family in our prayers now and always.”
Mirroring these sentiments, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb put out a press release.
“Indiana lost a favorite son and true servant leader,” he said. “Jim Morris, the quintessential Hoosier, didn’t just preach of the blessings of his faith, family, friends and vocation, he brought fullness to them all.
He cared as much about helping a hungry stranger as he did dining with any Pope or Princess. His love for his childhood home in Terre Haute was equaled by his devotion to his alma mater Indiana University.
We all have Jim Morris to thank for being such a relentless positive force and builder of our capital city into the international destination it is today. Everyone could learn from Jim’s wisdom, giant heart for humanity and appetite for the arts. Janet and I will miss our dear friend, everyday, and are praying for Jackie and the Morris family during this challenging time.”
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett also issued a statement on Morris’ passing.
“Last night, Indianapolis lost a true giant with the passing of my dear friend Jim Morris,” he said.
“Jim’s outsized impact on Indianapolis and our state will be felt for decades to come. He helped to establish the Indiana Sports Corp, shaping the sports strategy that laid the foundation for our recent record-breaking successes as a host city. He raised funds for pivotal projects like the Indianapolis Zoo and the Hoosier Dome. His leadership at Pacers Sports & Entertainment only solidified his place as a pillar of our community. And his dedication to humanitarian efforts extended his impact further to communities across the globe.
I extend my heartfelt condolences to Jim’s wife Jackie and the entire Morris family, as well as to everyone at Pacers Sports & Entertainment. May we honor Jim’s legacy by striving to lead our lives like he did – with compassion, humanity, and the spirit of service in everything we do.”
Working for the Pacers since 2007, Morris has widely been regarded as an influential leader. He graduated from Indiana University with a master’s degree from Butler University, using both accolades to cultivate an identity for both Indianapolis and the Hoosier state as a whole.
Some of Morris’s career highlights include working as chief of staff for Indianapolis Mayor Richard G. Lugar from 1967 to 1973, working as the president of the Lilly Endowment from 1984 to 1988 and serving as the chairman and CEO for IWC Resources Corporation and Indianapolis Water Company from 1989 to 2002.
From 2002 to 2007, Morris also worked as the executive director for the largest humanitarian agency in the world, United Nations World Food Program. Fueled by an insatiable desire to serve the world and impact the lives of children, Morris spent his time and efforts in several impoverished communities, providing food and care all across the globe. During this time, he also served as the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy in southern Africa.
Then, from 2007 to his passing on Saturday, Morris spent his time at Gainbridge Fieldhouse as an executive for Pacers Sports & Entertainment.
Later in life, Morris retained an immaculate number of honors. To name a few, he served as a university trustee and board chairman for both IU and Indiana State University, served on the Executive Board for UNICEF, received 17 honorary doctorates, earned the Sachem Award provided by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb in 2021 and was bestowed the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award by former president Barack Obama in 2016.
