Orlando Magic co-founder Pat Williams dies at 84 after battle with viral pneumonia
Orlando Magic co-founder and sports legend Pat Williams has died at the age of 84, the team announced.
Williams, who spent more than 30 years with the Magic after helping to launch Orlando’s expansion franchise in 1987, died Wednesday after a battle with viral pneumonia. He was said to have died “peacefully surrounded by family.”
In his career as a sports executive, he also helped the Philadelphia 76ers win the 1982-83 NBA championship as the team’s general manager, and was active in baseball as president of Philly’s minor league affiliate.
Yet it is Orlando where Williams is remembered most fondly, after he and Jim Hewitt convinced then-NBA commissioner David Stern to allow their new franchise to join the league nearly 40 years ago.
Orlando Magic co-founder Pat Williams has died at the age of 84, the team announced
Williams spent more than 30 years with the Magic after helping launch the Orlando expansion franchise in 1987
“Pat Williams simply brought magic to Orlando,” Magic Chairman Dan DeVos and CEO Alex Martins said in a joint statement. “His accomplishments will always be remembered.
“Armed with his ever-present optimism and unmatched energy, he was an incredible visionary who helped transform the sports world in multiple ways. From bringing the Magic to Orlando to transforming sports marketing and promotions, he was always ahead of the curve.
“Pat changed the landscape of sports in Orlando forever. He shed light on what those who called Orlando home already knew: that Central Florida was a great place to live, work and play. We all owe him a debt of gratitude and he will be missed, but never forgotten.”