Decades before Jim Morris became “perhaps the most important person in Indiana during the past 50 years,” as a former Indianapolis mayor put it, he was a kid delivering newspapers in his neighborhood east of Memorial Stadium in Terre Haute.
The list of Morris’ achievements through his 81-year lifetime could fill up a full page of a newspaper. Vice chairman of the Indiana Pacers. Indianapolis Mayor Richard Lugar’s chief of staff. A shaper of Indy’s unique city-county form of government. Chairman of the Indiana State University and Indiana University boards. Driver of humanitarian causes, including his years as the United Nations Secretary General’s special envoy in the hunger crisis in southern Africa, and through his years with the Lilly Endowment and as the Indianapolis Water Company CEO. Pivotal player in the creation of Market Square Arena, the Hoosier Dome and the Indianapolis Zoo, as well as in establishing the Pacers, Indianapolis Colts and Indiana Fever. Recipient of the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from President Obama in 2016.
That summary is only a glimpse. When Morris died July 12 at age 81, praise of his servant lifestyle poured in from business, civic, education and charitable groups and colleagues. Remembrances ranged from the National Federation of State High School Associations to corporations like OneAmerica Financial, Indianapolis’ Democratic Mayor Joe Hoggsett to Indiana’s Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, and gospel music legends the Gaither Family to Indiana University President Pam Whitten.
Former Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, a Republican, told the Indianapolis Star that Morris might be the most significant Hoosier in a half-century.
People from a variety of fields and opposite political corners admired and appreciated Morris.
It all started quite humbly in Terre Haute, where James Thomas Morris was born and raised. He attended Weldele School and Woodrow Wilson Junior High before graduating from Garfield High School in 1961.
His youth included some formative guidance.
“He always, always credited the Boy Scouts with influencing his life,” Craig McKee, a friend, Terre Haute attorney and federal magistrate told the Tribune-Star. “He looked back on his experiences in the Boy Scouts when he was growing up as transformational in his life.” Morris backed up his gratitude with support, later serving on the Boy Scouts of America’s national advisory board.
Likewise, the public college in Morris’ hometown, ISU, was not forgotten even after he left Terre Haute to attend IU, where he graduated in 1965. Morris became an ISU Board of Trustees member and chair — the youngest member ever aside from student appointees of later eras, according to longtime friend Fred Nation. The Sycamore community remained on his mind years after that board service.
“He always asked about Indiana State University,” McKee said Tuesday of his interactions with Morris around the state.
His work with the Lilly Foundation also benefited community causes in Terre Haute.
“The political connections, experience in philanthropy and in the corporate world combined with him being one of the most giving, selfless guys you’d ever want to meet,” McKee said.
Morris took an interest in those he met, Nation recalled. And while Indianapolis became the primary “project” of Morris’ work, he proved an invaluable resource to Terre Haute in getting things done here. Nation called Morris “one of the last of a vanishing generation of Terre Haute business, education and professional leaders who shared a time in building our state.”
Morris also shared an interest in art from the nation’s Southwest with late Terre Haute businessman and friend Max Gibson. That friendship also encompassed Greg Gibson, Max’s son, who often interacted with Morris at Pacers games.
Morris was “tireless” in his efforts to increase interest in the NBA franchise throughout all parts of Indiana, including by hosting luncheons.
“He’s Terre Haute royalty,” Greg Gibson said Tuesday. “He’s somebody this community ought to be proud of.”
Indeed, if a new round of inductions is made to the Terre Haute Walk of Fame downtown, Jim Morris should be atop the list.
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