Pence Proclaims Today Larry Bird Day

Today is Larry Bird Day in Indiana, honoring a native Hoosier born in West Baden who, according to Governor Mike Pence, “helped to transform the game of basketball into the one Hoosiers know and love today.” Pence issued a proclamation this week declaring Saturday, Nov. 9 as Larry Bird Day, coinciding with the official dedication of a 15-foot bronze statue of Bird at Indiana State University.

The proclamation remarks on Bird’s graduation from Springs Valley High School where he became the school’s all-time scoring champion, and Indiana State University where he led the Sycamores to a number one ranking and through a nearly undefeated season in 1979.

It commends Bird on his 13 seasons in the NBA as he led the Boston Celtics to three NBA championship wins and became the only person to have won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year awards.

Pence said Larry Bird Day “celebrates the legacy and success of this extraordinary Hoosier as an all-star NBA player, Olympian, and Indiana Pacers coach and executive,” and thanked him on behalf of the state of Indiana.