OUNTY OF LLEGHENY C A

RICH FITZGERALD COUNTY EXECUTIVE

Proclamation WHEREAS, the Mark Cuban Foundation, author Mark Whited, and Achieving Greatness, Inc., celebrated late Hall of Famer and the 50th anniversary of the Pipers American Association (ABA) world championship on May 4-5, 2018 in Allegheny County; and

WHEREAS, on May 4, 1968, the Pipers won the first and only professional basketball title in Pittsburgh sports history; the members of that team were Craig Dill, Calvin Graham, Ira Harge, Connie Hawkins, , Bob Hogsett, , Arvesta Kelly, Tom Kerwin, Barry Leibowitz, Bill Meyer, Richard Parks, Willie Porter, John Postley, Herschel Turner, , , Trooper Washington, Dexter Westbrook, Charlie Williams, and ; they were led by 1967-68 ABA Coach of the Year ; and

WHEREAS, the Pipers finished the 1967-68 regular season with a 54-24 record, best in the Eastern Division; they staved off elimination against the Buccaneers in Game 6 of the ABA Finals thanks in part to Hawkins’ 41 points and 12 rebounds; in Game 7, Williams scored a game-high 35 points, as the Pipers claimed a 122-113 victory and the league title in front of 11,000 fans at Pittsburgh’s ; and

WHEREAS, Hawkins led the ABA in scoring and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player that season; he later went on to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the , , and , and was an All-Star from 1970-73; his No. 42 jersey was retired by the Suns, and he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992; and

WHEREAS, for the first time since 1968, those champion Pipers reunited earlier this month in Allegheny County to honor Hawkins, who died in 2017, and the Pipers’ tremendous legacy; among those saluting their accomplishments were former Pitt and pro basketball player Billy Knight, former Lakers player Ron Carter, and former Duquesne star and player B.B. Flenory; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that I, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, by virtue of the authority vested in me, do hereby congratulate the Pittsburgh Pipers on the 50th anniversary of their ABA title and thank them for helping to make Pittsburgh the “City of Champions.”

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the County of Allegheny to be affixed this 18th day of May, 2018. Rich Fitzgerald RICH FITZGERALD