Jim Morris forever remembered with banner hanging in Fieldhouse rafters
Jim Morris cared deeply for the Pacers, Fever and Indianapolis community. He joined Pacers Sports & Entertainment in 2007 and was a connector for the organization and the city.
There is a new banner hanging in the rafters of Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
At 7:25 p.m. ET Friday, prior to player introductions for a WNBA game between the Indiana Fever and Phoenix Mercury, there was a moment of silence to celebrate and remember longtime Pacers Sports & Entertainment executive Jim Morris, who passed away one month ago.
Following the moment of silence, public address announcer Shawn Sullivan made the announcement for fans to look up at the west-side rafters for a special moment.
From there, a new banner was dropped with Morris’ name on it — along with logos of the two teams he loved dearly: the Pacers and Fever.
“Jim passed away the day of our last game before the (Olympic) break and so we obviously wanted to honor him and will continue to honor him in many ways,” PS&E new CEO Mel Raines told Fieldhouse Files afterward.
“It seemed fitting that at the first game back that we would do a tribute. And it was never a question that we would put a banner up for him in the top of the Fieldhouse.”
Read more about Morris and his impact on the Indianapolis community here
Morris’ banner is between late owner Melvin Simon (he co-owned the team with his brother Herb) and Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings, who was courtside for the Fever’s 98-89 win on Friday.
Morris and Simon are the only banners hung for non-players or coaches.
The others honored in the rafters are all Hall of Famers: George McGinnis, Reggie Miller, Mel Daniels, Roger Brown, Slick Leonard, and Lin Dunn.
Morris was instrumental in so many things, especially the local Indianapolis community, before joining PS&E in 2007.
“There are no words that would do justice to how consequential Jim’s life truly was,” Herb Simon said in a statement released by the organization on July 13.
“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. 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.”
A service was held to honor Morris, who was 81, on July 19 in Indianapolis. (Click here to read his obituary.)
One day earlier, the Fever practiced on the main court at The Fieldhouse. And the blank space in the rafters, reserved for Morris, caught my attention.
