Former Hawks executive and real estate developer Michael Gearon Sr. dies at 87

ATLANTA — Michael Gearon Sr., former owner, general manager and team president for the team in the late 1970′s and early 1980′s died at the age of 87 last month. Gearon spent nearly 30 years as a part of the Hawks franchise filling a wide variety of roles for the team.

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Gearon was brought in 1977 by then owner Ted Turner to run the team as both general manager and president. He held the general manager role from 1977-79 while he remained team president through 1986.

Because he had already retired from his highly successful real estate business, Gearon insisted Turner pay him $1 for his work in both roles.

He would then become the team’s “Chairman of the Board” through 2004.

In 2004 Gearon, his son and a group of investors from several different states formed Atlanta Spirit LLC. The group purchased the Hawks, Atlanta Thrashers and the then Philips Arena from Time Warner. Gearon Sr. held a 2% ownership stake in the group which dissolved after selling the Thrashers in 2011 and the Hawks along with the arena in 2015.

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One of Gearon’s biggest accomplishments was the signing of Hall of Famer and current Vice President of Basketball Dominique Wilkins who is exceptionally close to the family.

“Michael Gearon Sr. was like a father to me and took care of me in every way,” WIlkins said. “He and Hank Aaron convinced Ted Turner to trade for me and bring me to the Hawks in 1982, and forever changed my life. We talked at least three or four times a month for almost the last 40 years. Michael was a wonderful man and I will miss him.”

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