Orlando Magic co-founder Pat Williams dies at 84 after battle with viral pneumonia

Orlando Magic co-founder and sports fable Pat Williams has died astatine nan property of 84, nan squad has announced.

Williams, who spent complete 30 years pinch nan Magic aft helping Orlando's description franchise get disconnected nan crushed successful 1989, passed distant connected Wednesday pursuing a conflict pinch viral pneumonia. He is said to person died 'peacefully surrounded by family'.

In his profession arsenic a sports executive, he besides helped nan Philadelphia 76ers triumph nan 1982-83 NBA championship arsenic nan team's wide manager, while besides spending clip successful shot arsenic president of Philly's insignificant convention affiliate.

Yet it is successful Orlando wherever Williams is remembered astir fondly aft he and section businessman Jim Hewitt helped person then-NBA commissioner David Stern to grant their description franchise a spot successful nan convention almost 40 years ago. 

'Pat Williams simply brought magic to Orlando,' said Magic Chairman Dan DeVos and CEO Alex Martins successful a associated statement. 'His accomplishments will ever beryllium remembered. 

'Armed pinch his ever-present optimism and unparalleled energy, he was an unthinkable visionary who helped toggle shape nan world of sports successful aggregate ways. From bringing nan Magic to Orlando, to transforming sports trading and promotions, he was ever up of nan curve. 

'Pat everlastingly changed nan sports scenery successful Orlando. He shined a ray connected what those who called Orlando location already knew – that Central Florida was a fabulous spot to live, activity and play. 

'We each beryllium him a indebtedness of gratitude and he will surely beryllium missed, but ne'er forgotten.'

Williams is survived by his woman Ruth and their 19 children, 14 of whom were adopted by nan mates from 4 different overseas countries.

'He loved a challenge, and erstwhile he moved our family to Orlando to commencement nan Magic, he was afloat of excitement and power that he displayed each day,' his family said successful a statement. 

'We each grew up believing that thing is imaginable because of his unwavering enthusiasm for what he was passionate about. Those who attended nan games, saw him astatine church, aliases spent clip pinch him successful a societal mounting cognize that he ne'er met a alien and was ever speedy pinch an encouraging word. He was a giver, a teacher, nan eventual cheerleader, and he was a lifelong learner.'

Williams spent 51 years successful nan NBA, starting his hoops profession arsenic nan 76ers' business head earlier becoming wide head of nan Chicago Bulls astatine nan property of conscionable 29.

He spent nan adjacent 27 years arsenic a GM for nan Bulls, nan Hawks and of people nan Sixers, helping nan second go NBA champions successful 1983.

Just 3 years later, Williams put nan wheels successful mobility for Orlando's description franchise erstwhile he joined forces pinch Hewitt, who urged him to subordinate his finance group and bring an NBA squad to nan city.

In 1987 the NBA Board of Governors granted that description franchise to Orlando, and successful DecEmber of nan pursuing twelvemonth nan Magic were officially calved aft trading their 10,000th play summons and fulfilling their committedness to nan league.

Williams, whose first emotion was shot contempt his iconic position successful basketball, was nan Magic's GM until 1996, erstwhile he was promoted to elder vice president. 

Away from his career, he besides ran 58 marathons and was nan writer of complete 100 books.