I see the IU Board of Trustees have named the new student athletic center after my friend Jim Morris. Allow me to write a few words about Jim. He was one of the very first people I met at IU when we arrived as pledge brothers straight out of high school and not knowing how the world works let alone the campus,. We immediately hit it off and spent long hours talking about life, girls, grades, politics ambitions, and all the rest of the stuff college students talked about in the early 60’s. When my future stoker and I became a couple and Jim with his bride-to-be were the same, the four of us were almost inseparable and did many things together.
After graduation, we kept in touch but infrequently saw each other. But we remained friends and kept in more or less regular contact. While I was well aware of the very impactful life he lived, he was always very modest about it. Jim was a great story teller with a great sense of humor. I was fascinated about his stories about trips to North Korea and meeting with “not very nice guys” in Africa. He was instrumental in bringing the Colts to Indianapolis. His influence grew from our room in the frat house to several continents. I heard from a mutual friend how Jim actually paced off the site of the Hoosier Dome before it was designed to make sure it would fit. I told Jim he should write a memoir about these stories. He modestly and honestly didn’t think anyone would read it. Our loss. I was privileged to be a featured speaker when he was awarded man of the year by our fraternity.
The last time I saw Jim and his wife was spring of 2023. We spent the evening mostly talking about life, family and other stuff old guys talk about.
Many accomplished people have commented on Jim’s career and his incredible positive accomplishments. I knew him as a college buddy who talked, worried, laughed, and found satisfaction and happiness in all the common things students in the 60’s did.
When you see Jim's name on that new building, remember that he is one of us.
news.iu.edu
After graduation, we kept in touch but infrequently saw each other. But we remained friends and kept in more or less regular contact. While I was well aware of the very impactful life he lived, he was always very modest about it. Jim was a great story teller with a great sense of humor. I was fascinated about his stories about trips to North Korea and meeting with “not very nice guys” in Africa. He was instrumental in bringing the Colts to Indianapolis. His influence grew from our room in the frat house to several continents. I heard from a mutual friend how Jim actually paced off the site of the Hoosier Dome before it was designed to make sure it would fit. I told Jim he should write a memoir about these stories. He modestly and honestly didn’t think anyone would read it. Our loss. I was privileged to be a featured speaker when he was awarded man of the year by our fraternity.
The last time I saw Jim and his wife was spring of 2023. We spent the evening mostly talking about life, family and other stuff old guys talk about.
Many accomplished people have commented on Jim’s career and his incredible positive accomplishments. I knew him as a college buddy who talked, worried, laughed, and found satisfaction and happiness in all the common things students in the 60’s did.
When you see Jim's name on that new building, remember that he is one of us.
IU Indianapolis athletics center to be named James T. Morris Arena
The Indiana University Board of Trustees voted to name the facility after the late alumnus, who earned his political science degree from IU Bloomington an...
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