Honoring the late Maurice Lucas’ 70th birthday
Maurice Lucas, one of the greatest players in Portland Trail Blazers history, celebrates a past birthday with his family. A Lucas Foundation scholarship drive is kicking on Friday, Feb. 18 to honor the date of what would have been his 70th birthday.
As the nation marks Black History Month, the Maurice Lucas Foundation is hosting a scholarship drive in honor of the late Portland Trail Blazers great, kicking off on Friday, Feb. 18 with what would have been Lucas’ 70th birthday.
“The funds donated will go to our Howard Hedinger Memorial Scholarship Fund to support Portland students’ post-secondary schooling,” said David Lucas, son of the late Maurice Lucas and executive director of the foundation. “Dad wore the number 20 when he played for the Trail Blazers. To mark that, we want to raise $20,000 in 20 days.”
The scholarship drive will run to March 9. Anyone who wants to donate can do so at www.ML20.org.
Maurice Lucas is one of the most beloved members of the Portland NBA franchise. It’s been 34 years since he last played with the Trail Blazers, 12 years since he served as an assistant coach with the team and 11 years since he passed away.
Lucas was born and raised in Pittsburgh. A 6 ft.-9 in. power forward, he played at Marquette University, and after a two-year stint in the ABA, he joined the Portland Trail Blazers. Lucas was the team’s leading scorer in 1977, the year the Trail Blazers won the NBA Championship.
The Trail Blazers retired the four-time NBA All Star’s number in 1987. The ABA also named Lucas to its All-Time Team. He passed away in 2010 at age 58 of cancer.