He as soon as performed minor league baseball, his old flame, authored greater than 100 books and together with spouse Ruth, adopted 14 kids from international nations. He was additionally a marathon runner.
That full life got here to an finish on Thursday, when Williams died from issues associated to viral pneumonia, the Magic introduced. He was 84.
“There isn’t a Orlando Magic with out Pat Williams,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver mentioned in a press release. “He was held in such excessive regard within the basketball group and was a good friend to me and so many generations of league executives. Pat was by no means at a loss for a sort and supportive phrase and all the time introduced nice enthusiasm, vitality and optimism to the whole lot he did all through his greater than 50 years within the NBA.
“We categorical our heartfelt condolences to Pat’s spouse, Ruth, their household and your complete Magic group.”
Williams started his NBA profession in 1968 because the Philadelphia 76ers’ enterprise supervisor. He then served stints as basic supervisor of the Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls — earlier than returning to Philadelphia as GM. He formed the roster that gained the NBA title in 1983.
Not lengthy after that, Williams was closely concerned within the technique of bringing an NBA staff to Orlando. It occurred in 1987, when the league’s board of governors granted a franchise in 1987. The Magic started play as an enlargement franchise two years later, with Williams serving as GM. He was promoted to senior vp in 1996.
“Pat Williams merely introduced magic to Orlando,” Orlando Magic Chairman Dan DeVos and CEO Alex Martins mentioned in a joint assertion. “His accomplishments will all the time be remembered. Armed together with his ever-present optimism and unparalleled vitality, he was an unbelievable visionary who helped remodel the world of sports activities in a number of methods. From bringing the Magic to Orlando, to reworking sports activities advertising and promotions, he was all the time forward of the curve.”
In fact, baseball was his old flame. He performed catcher at Wake Forest, then signed on with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1962. He later grew to become a front-office worker and was named Minor League Government of the 12 months by The Sporting Information in 1967.
“He liked a problem, and when he moved our household to Orlando to begin the Magic, he was full of pleasure and vitality that he displayed day-after-day,” Williams’ household mentioned in a press release. “All of us grew up believing that something is feasible due to his unwavering enthusiasm for what he was captivated with. Those that attended the video games, noticed him at church, or frolicked with him in a social setting know that he by no means met a stranger and was all the time fast with an encouraging phrase. He was a giver, a instructor, the last word cheerleader, and he was a lifelong learner.”
Per The Related Press:
Williams was at one time dubbed the “king of the lottery,” given the success he and the Magic had when he confirmed as much as signify the membership on the league’s annual occasion to find out who will get the No. 1 decide. Lottery luck fell his approach thrice, bringing Shaquille O’Neal, Anfernee Hardaway and Dwight Howard to Orlando.
“Most groups have a trophy case filled with trophies,” Williams as soon as informed The Related Press. “We have now a case crammed with pingpong balls.”
Williams ran 58 marathons and authored greater than 100 books. He’s survived by spouse Ruth and 19 kids, together with 14 who had been adopted from international nations.
“Identified in February 2011 with a number of myeloma, Williams grew to become an avid fundraiser for most cancers analysis and sat on a number of boards for most cancers teams all through the nation, together with the Board of Administrators for the A number of Myeloma Analysis Basis,” the AP wrote. “He additionally was a motivational speaker, typically addressing teams on management, teamwork and the psychological problem that comes after being recognized with most cancers, amongst different matters.”
