Portland Trail Blazers' Co-Founder Larry Weinberg Dies At 92

PORTLAND, OR – Without Larry Weinberg, it's possible that there never would have been a Portland Trail Blazers. With the fortune that he made in real estate, he was one of the four men who convinced the NBA a team.

The Blazers were born in 1970.

In the 48 years since, Weinberg was a major part of the team, even after he sold them to the late Paul Allen in 1988. Weinberg died on New Year's Day at his home in Los Angeles. He was 92-years-old.

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"Larry was truly a bright spot for our franchise, a gentleman's gentleman as an owner and team executive," the team's original broadcaster, Bill Schonley, says. "Whenever he was in the office, he made a special effort to always visit with employees.

"Larry was good to the Trail Blazers players and coaches, and someone we all admired."

Weinberg started out as one of four owners, working with founding president Harry Glickman, Herman Sarkowsky – who also helped found the Seattle Seahawks – and Robert Schmertz, a real estate developer who would later own the Boston Celtics, to secure the franchise.

By 1975, he had become the majority owner of the team.

Two years later they won their first – and so far only – NBA championship.

"Under Larry's ownership, the Portland Trail Blazers became the best franchise in the NBA," Glickman remembers. "Larry was a Blazer booster all his life and appeared at many playoff games even after he sold the club.

"I worked with him closely and we became good friends. Joanne and I extend our condolences to his wonderful family."

In 1988, Weinberg –along with his co-owners – who had invested $3.7 million for the franchise rights, sold the team to Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen for $70 million.

Allen died last October.

After Weinberg sold the team, they honored him by retiring a jersey with the number 1 and his name.

He later gave his permission five times to players to wear his number – Rod Strickland, Derek Anderson, Jarrett Jack, Armon Johnson, and Ike Diogu.

In January, 2017, Weinberg and his family were in Portland for a team celebration of the 40th anniversary of their championship.

In addition to his years as owner and later booster and adviser to the team, Weinberg was involved in charity and advocacy worked and served as president of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

The organization released a statement saying that Weinberg and his wife, Barbi "were critical to forging the movement to strengthen the relationship between the U.S. and the Jewish state.

"Their dedicated efforts over many years educated scores of political and community leaders about the importance of our bipartisan alliance with our democratic ally."

Oregon's senior senator, Ron Wyden, released a statement saying: "Today we mourn the loss of a true mensch. Seeing him and his wonderful wife Barbi cheering at every Trail Blazers home game was the essence of #RipCity pride.

"He was my friend and like many, I will mourn his passing."

Weinberg is survived by his wife, Barbi, four children, 12 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

Photo showing Weinberg all the way on the right with coach Jack Ramsay, and Stu Inman, the team's director of player personnel on June 10, 1977 right before the team selected Hofstra's Rich Laurel as their top draft pick via Jack Smith/AP Photo.