The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has awarded Harry Glickman, founder of the Portland Trail Blazers, the 2019 John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award.
Glickman’s efforts were key to Portland having an NBA franchise in 1970 during the league expansion. He was the Trial Blazers’ team president and general manager 1970 – 1987. Under his leadership the team won the 1977 NBA championship. In a recent release Glickman said:
“I believe one of the most important reasons I was selected by the Hall of Fame is because Portland has proven it can support a small market franchise. For this, I thank the fans of Portland and everyone else responsible for what I consider to be the greatest honor I have ever received.”
The Portland native retired in 1987 but never cut ties with the team he helped create. Currently President Emeritus of the Trail Blazers, the 94-year-old can still be found at Blazers home games sitting courtside.
In 1992, Glickman was declared the state’s Citizen of the Year, the first to receive this Oregon honor. He was inducted in 1986 to the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.
Brochure printing helps some sports teams create hand-outs to distribute to attendees of a game dedicated to a recently honored individual associated with their sport.
In September, Glickman along with Del Harris, Blazers long-time head coach, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the ceremonies of the 2019 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.