Indiana
Pacers, civic leader Jim Morris dies: ‘No one loved Indiana & Indianapolis more than Jim’
INDIANAPOLIS — Jim Morris, a decorated Indiana and Butler alumnus, longtime civil and local business leader and vice chair of Pacers Sports and Entertainment, died at the age of 81 according to a release sent Saturday from the Indiana Pacers. Over the the past six decades, Morris helped reshape the civil and sports landscape in central Indiana.
“There are no words that would do justice to how consequential Jim’s life truly was,” read a statement attributed to Pacers owner Herb Simon, the Simon family and Pacers Sports and Entertainment. “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.”
Morris grew up in Terre Haute and graduated from IU in 1965, beginning his career at American Fletcher National Bank. He became chief of staff for then-Indianapolis mayor Richard Lugar in 1967 and stayed in that position through 1973. During that period, he helped to create Unigov and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, which has since divided into two different schools. He also helped develop Market Square Arena which opened its doors in 1974.
Gregg Doyel: From Colts, Pacers and Unigov, Jim Morris was benevolent wizard behind curtain for Indy
“Last night, Indianapolis lost a true giant with the passing of my dear friend Jim Morris,” Mayor Joe Hogsett said in a statement. “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.”
Morris moved on from Lugar’s office to the Lilly Endowment in 1973, rising to the level of president in 1984 and holding that position until 1988. During that period, he earmarked $25 million for the construction of the Hoosier Dome and also raised funds for the construction of the Indianapolis Zoo.
From there he became the chair of the Indianapolis Water Co. from 1989 through 2002 and then the executive director of the World Food Programme from 2002-2007 and was also the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the humanitarian crisis in South Africa during that period. He returned to Indianapolis in 2007 to join Pacers Sports and Entertainment. He rose to the position of president and has been vice chair since 2014.
“Indiana lost a favorite son and true servant leader,” governor Eric Holcomb said in a statement. “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, every day, and are praying for Jackie and the Morris family during this challenging time.”
Morris served as a university trustee for Indiana University and Indiana State University and twice served as chairman of the IU Board of Trustees. He also served on the executive boards of UNICEF, the National Advisory Board for the Boy Scouts of America, the United States Olympic Committee, Riley Children’s Foundation, the American Red Cross, Hulman & Company board of directors, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway board of directors, the Eiteljorg Museum, and the Indianapolis Power and Light Advisory Board.
Morris was awarded 17 honorary doctorate degrees. He was awarded the Sachem Award by Holcomb in 2021 and the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award President Barack Obama in 2016.
“Jim Morris was a quintessential Hoosier,” Indiana University president Pam Whitten said in a statement. “Few have given so much to our university, our state and our world. Jim’s deep love for Indiana University was known far and wide and he leaves an incomparable legacy as an IU student, parent, benefactor, board chair, and trustee of nearly two decades.” He received countless accolades over his many years of service, and his impact on Indiana University is immeasurable. I consider myself so fortunate to have received the unprecedented support and mentoring that accompanied a deep friendship with Jim Morris.””
Quinn Buckner, current chairman of the IU board of trustees, former IU and NBA point guard and current Pacers TV color analyst also issued a statement.
“On behalf of the Indiana University Board of Trustees, we remember today the towering legacy of Jim Morris,” Buckner said. “Through his longtime board leadership, endless generosity, and love for his alma mater, Jim made a tremendous impact on the IU community, the people of Indiana, and many others across the globe. In my own life, Jim was a mentor and confidant, as he was to many. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who benefitted from his wisdom and generosity.”
NBA commissioner Adam Silver also released a statement.
“I am heartbroken to learn of the passing of my beloved friend Jim Morris. Jim was Indiana royalty. He devoted much of his life to serving his community and took great pride in seeing Indianapolis develop into a world-class destination. He also cared deeply about the Pacers and Fever and their role in inspiring and connecting people. And there was nobody better at bringing people together than Jim, who would often host gatherings of community, business and political leaders prior to Pacers games that were uplifting and unforgettable.
“On behalf of the entire NBA family, we send our deepest condolences to Jim’s wife, Jackie, and their family; Herb Simon and his family; and all of Jim’s many friends and colleagues at Pacers Sports & Entertainment.”
Former Indianapolis mayor Greg Ballard called Morris “Perhaps the most important person in Indiana during the past fifty years. The kindest, most selfless man.”
(The REPORTER) — The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, June 10, regarding a proposed corridor improvement project on State Road 32 in Hamilton County.
The hearing will provide an opportunity for the public to interact with the project team, review the features of the proposed roundabout project, and provide official public comment. Project documents are available for review at improvetomove32.com.
The project area is between East Street in Westfield and River Road in Noblesville. The proposed project includes adding lanes to accommodate two lanes in each direction, removing all traffic signals within the project limits, and constructing roundabouts at the following intersections with SR 32:
- Carey Road/Grassy Branch Road
- Gunther Boulevard
- Shady Nook Road
- Moontown Road/Gray Road
- Pebble Brook Boulevard
- Hazel Dell Road/Little Chicago Road
- Mill Creek Road
The hearing will take place at Prairie Waters Event Center, 4180 Westfield Road, Westfield. Doors will open at 5 p.m. to allow the public to view displays and talk with the project team. A presentation will be given at 5:30 p.m., with a public comment session held directly after. INDOT is offering livestreams of all public meetings and hearings. You must register here in order to participate in the livestream. Livestream audience comments will only be accepted in written electronic form, not verbally. A recording of the livestream presentation will be posted on the project webpage and INDOT YouTube page after the hearing and will be available for at least 90 days.
All verbal statements recorded during the public hearing and all written comments submitted prior to, during and for a period of two weeks following the hearing date, will be evaluated, considered, and addressed in subsequent environmental documentation.
Written comments may be submitted within the comment period to Nick Batta, CMT, 8790 Purdue Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268; or sent via email to SR32HamiltonCounty@cmtengr.com.
INDOT respectfully requests comments be submitted by June 26.
A beloved tradition is drawing stitchers, shoppers, and curious newcomers across the region.
If you have ever walked into a quilt shop “just to look,” you already know how that story ends. One minute you are admiring a cheerful stack of fabric with names like sunflower, buttercream, and cardinal red, and the next you are seriously considering whether your house has room for a new table runner, a holiday wall hanging, and perhaps a life-changing bundle of fat quarters. Quilt shops have that effect. They are part treasure hunt, part therapy session, part color explosion, and in Southeastern Indiana, they are also some of the friendliest gathering places around.
That is especially true during the ALL INDIANA SHOP HOP, the statewide sewing and quilting event running through June 30, 2026.
The idea is delightfully simple: visit participating quilt shops, collect passport stamps, pick up thank-you gifts, and become eligible for prizes. The official event even describes it as a quilting version of a bar crawl, only with less late-night regret and more batting, bobbins, and beautiful fabric. There is even a youth passport for ages 8 to 17, which is a nice reminder that quilting is not just a pastime handed down from grandparents. It is also being discovered by a new generation who like making things by hand, repurposing fabric to help the environment, learning skills online, and sharing their creations proudly.
And really, quilting has everything going for it. It is practical, creative, social, and just a little bit magical.
A quilt can be a baby gift, a comfort during a hard season, a graduation present, a family heirloom, or simply a way to make a couch look much more put together than the people sitting on it. Quilters are surgeons with rotary cutters, artists with thread, and storytellers with fabric. They notice pattern, texture, memory, and meaning. Even non-quilters tend to fall under the spell. You do not need to know how to piece a block to appreciate the patience, skill, and imagination it takes to turn small shapes into something that warms both the room and the people in it.
That is one reason local quilt shops matter so much.
Yes, they sell fabric, books, notions, patterns, batting, and tools that can make a beginner feel both excited and slightly underqualified. But they also do something online shopping cannot: they welcome people in. Good quilt shops are places where somebody will help you match prints, explain what on earth a layer cake is, admire your progress, and gently steer you away from a fabric choice you may regret in broad daylight. They are equal parts classroom, clubhouse, and creative headquarters.
Southeastern Indiana is lucky to have several shops that make a Shop Hop route feel less like an errand list and more like a mini road trip with excellent scenery and even better conversation.
In Versailles, The Quilter’s Nook has become a creative quilting and sewing destination with classes, learning opportunities, and plenty of supplies and inspiration for anyone wanting to sharpen their skills or finally start that project they have been thinking about for two years. In Greensburg, Tree City Stitches is known for its premium fabrics, project kits, classes, and welcoming atmosphere, with plenty of samples on display to spark ideas before you even make it to the cutting counter.
In Vevay, Cardinal Quilts offers a deep fabric selection, quilting classes, and longarm services, making it the kind of place where serious quilters can stock up and newcomers can get helpful guidance without a trace of intimidation. And in Madison, L&L Yard Goods has been operating in the same location since 1986, offering quilting essentials, classes, and the sort of steady hometown presence that makes people come back year after year.
Together, these shops help keep quilting visible, vibrant, and local.
They also provide handmade quilts for community projects, children’s hospitals, veterans, and emergency services just like the early quilters did centuries ago.
So if your summer plans could use a little more color, a little more small-town charm,
and maybe a little more excuse to buy fabric you absolutely do not need but definitely deserve, the Shop Hop is calling. Bring a friend, bring your passport, and bring a willingness to be delighted by places where craftsmanship still matters and people still make beautiful things with their hands.
In Southeastern Indiana, quilting is more than a hobby.
It is history from the days of early pioneers, hospitality that warms you, creativity and community all stitched together one square at a time.
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