Mel Simon Passes Away at Age 82

Pacers co-owner, Mel Simon has died today at age 82. He had been co-owner of the Indiana Pacers with his brother Herb.

I personally would like to take this moment to thank Herb for all he did for my beloved city of Indianapolis.

It was Herb with his brother Mel who saved the Pacers from leaving town in 1983 with a last minute purchase of the team.

Up until that moment it appeared as though the team leaving was a forgone conclusion. If not for their efforts, the city of Indianapolis would be drastically different.

Had the Pacers left, it's pretty safe to assume that we would have never got the Colts.

In the mid-Ninety's they helped in a downtown revitalization effort that brought new life to a previously depressed city/downtown district.

Their company, Simon Property Group, has given jobs to many in the Central Indiana area and they have always spoken highly of the city. Even now as the financial situation of the team doesn't look so great, Mel and his brother have vowed to keep the team in Indianapolis.

So thank you Mel for all you did for a city and a team I both deeply love. You shall be missed.

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