At its April meeting, the Indiana University Board of Trustees formally endorsed a resolution approving the renaming of Riley Hospital Drive on the IUPUI campus as Jim Morris Drive. Gov. Eric Holcomb presented the resolution to Morris on his 80th birthday, and the new street signs displaying the Morris name will be officially installed June 5.

A new sign reading Jim Morris Drive on the Indianapolis campus. Photo courtesy of Capital Planning and Facilities

James T. “Jim” Morris is a native Hoosier and IU alumnus with a long and distinguished history of service to the university and the state of Indiana. Twice serving on the IU Board of Trustees, Morris is vice chairman of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, which owns both the Indiana Pacers and the Indiana Fever.

Morris has received numerous awards throughout his career, including Indiana’s Sagamore of the Wabash and the Indiana governor’s Sachem Award, as well as the IU Herman B Wells Visionary Award and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from IU. He has lent his expertise and service to a wide range of organizations, including the American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America, U.S. Olympic Committee, NCAA, United Nations World Food Programme and UNICEF.

Morris also served as chairman of the Board of Governors for Riley Children’s Foundation, and he worked tirelessly to help the foundation serve the needs of children suffering from chronic and life-threatening diseases. The renaming of Riley Hospital Drive, which is adjacent to several Riley facilities — including Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health, Riley Research and the Riley Outpatient Center — is a tribute to Morris’ service to Riley Hospital for Children, Indiana University, the city of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana, as well as his humanitarian efforts worldwide.

The renaming will not impact United States Postal Service mailing addresses, delivery services or map services, which will continue to recognize the Riley Hospital Drive name. However, people traveling on the street will notice white street signs displaying the Morris name, along with Riley Hospital and Indiana University logos, to honor Morris’ legacy of service to both institutions.