A giant man with a bigger heart — Indiana basketball legend George McGinnis celebrated at special event

On Sunday, Pacers Sports & Entertainment hosted a celebration of life for George McGinnis, who passed away on Dec. 14 after suffering cardiac arrest.

Pacers Hall of Famer George McGinnis was celebrated Sunday afternoon.

Gainbridge Fieldhouse looked a little different on Sunday. The Pacers had the day off, but there was an important event going on.

Gone was the Pacers’ home court and it was replaced by hundreds of chairs lined up the width of the event level for a program to celebrate one of the greatest basketball players to not only play for the Pacers, but also to come out of this basketball state.

The lights were dim and the giant video board overhead had a photo of George McGinnis with his Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame trophy, along with his number: 30. The Indy native and Pacers great passed away on Dec. 14 at the age of 73.

On Sunday, the hourlong program was for McGinnis — a celebration of his life for family, friends and fans alike. Above the stage, next to a secondary video board, was McGinnis’ retired number banner that was moved from the rafters to serve as a fitting backdrop for this event.

Mark Boyle, the radio voice of the Pacers, served as the emcee.

“George McGinnis was a magnificent basketball player,” he said. “One of the best the sport has ever produced. But as good as he was at playing basketball, George McGinnis was a much better man.”

Mark Boyle emceed the program.

The other speakers included his high school friend and teammate Jim Arnold, Indianapolis mayor Joe Hogsett, local filmmaker Ted Green, Clark Kellogg and Nancy Leonard.

And each of them made one similar point: McGinnis lit up a room. He was 6-foot-8, but his heart was even bigger. He was a kind, genuine human who built strong relationships with so many throughout his life.

Among those in the crowd for the celebration:

• Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle

• Indiana men’s basketball coach Mike Woodson

• Former Pacers athletic trainer David Craig

• Former Pacers ball boy and longtime team ophthalmologist Dr. John Abrams

• Former Pacers beat writer and later corporate PR executive Bill Benner

• Pacers Sports & Entertainment CEO Rick Fuson

• PS&E President & CEO Mel Raines

• VP of Player Relations Karen Atkeson

• Mad Ants assistant general manager Tim Brown Jr.

• Pacers broadcasters Chris Denari and Pat Boylan

• Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb

• Current and former ushers at The Fieldhouse

After Boyle got things started, Arnold spoke first. He was a former Washington High School teammate of McGinnis’ so his stories were unique and went way back.

Like how they met on a flag football field, how they sat together on the school bus and in the cafeteria. He joked that his nickname was “crammed” because he was always crammed in a seat next to Big George.

Arnold was with McGinnis when he learned to water ski. They rode horses together.

And once, those two and one other friend thought it would be a smart idea to buy a spider monkey. They took turns caring for it each week. Arnold noted that through all of McGinnis’ basketball accolades, he was most proud of his undefeated high school state championship. That was the most valuable thing to him.

Nancy and many members of the Leonard family were in attendance. She’s one of the most important figures in organization history.

We all know Slick Leonard’s famous “Boom, Baby” call and Nancy repeated the story because it involved McGinnis.

“It was in the coliseum because I can still see Billy Keller taking that 3-point shot,” he said. “Bob had designed a play for George and George was in the corner. There were like two or three seconds left in the game, and he was to put the ball (up) and then charge the basket. Well, he got caught up; he couldn’t even get out of there and there was just no time left. George turned around backwards and thought that ball back to Billy. Billy put it up in the air — and he wasn’t even supposed to touch the ball — and it went in.

“Bob jumped off the bench and said ‘Boom!’ And somebody on the bench said ‘Baby!’”

I could listen to Clark Kellogg share stories and his great wisdom all day. It was very special for him to attend and be one of several speakers because McGinnis meant a great deal to him, just like he did to so many.

“My life and I know, with all of my heart, that all of your lives were enhanced and enriched greatly by our encounter with George in whatever form that encounter took place,” Kellogg said.

“For me, it was a special friendship for 30 years. It’s heartwarming to know and to see and to hear friendships for 50-plus years that are rich and rich and powerful and life-giving. So thank you all that have that frame of encounter with George, and some maybe even beyond that. It’s a wonderful gift for all of us to see that.”

Kellogg shared how he grew up in Cleveland, but he admired and respected McGinnis from afar. As a 13-year-old in love with the game, he had not seen anybody like him.

“I actually thought that I wanted to try to play like him and I looked up to him from afar because of how unique he was,” Kellogg said with a smile. “There have been very few players, at that time and since, that combined his combination of speed, skill and force. And it was special to watch.”

Years later, they crossed paths and built a friendship. And McGinnis always called him “Loghead.”

A private ceremony was held for McGinnis back on Dec. 30 at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church for family and close friends. But I’m glad McGinnis was able to be celebrated on this day, in the arena, just like Mel Daniels and Slick before him.

McGinnis was an integral part of the ABA Pacers, those early years in the franchise’s history that set the table for what we know the organization to be today. And for that, he was honored — and will continue to be on the court as the team wears a black stripe on their jerseys with his retired No. 30.

He’s one of four players to have his number retired and hanging in the rafters. Reggie Miller is the only one still alive.

Great execution at The Fieldhouse by Doug Weitkamp & Co. to make it happen and set up the building in what was going to be a quiet day between Pacers home games.

It is my hope, too, that the ABA and so many great players, like McGinnis, are celebrated when NBA All-Star Weekend is hosted in Indy come mid-February.

George McGinnis, 73, was remembered and celebrated on Sunday.