Harry Glickman the Trail Blazers Founder Passed Away Today

Portland Trail Blazers founder and president emeritus Harry Glickman died today on June 10, 2020. He was 96 years old. Glickman brought the Trail Blazers to Portland in 1970 when the NBA granted Portland an expansion franchise. Glickman brought together the original ownership group of Herman Sarkowsky, Larry Weinberg and Robert Schmertz, who paid the NBA’s $3.7 million expansion fee. Glickman was one of the shareholders who sold the club to Paul Allen in 1988. Glickman served as General Manager from the team’s inception until he retired in 1994. Under his leadership the Trail Blazers won the 1977 NBA Championship and two Western Conference Championships in 1990 and 1992. Also, during his tenure, the Trail Blazers set an American professional sports record by selling out 814 consecutive home games. In 2019, Glickman received the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The Bunn Award honors coaches, players and contributors whose outstanding accomplishments have impacted the high school, college, professional and/or international game. Due to the postponement of the NBA season, the Trail Blazers will announce how they plan to honor Glickman at a later date.