David Benner was much more than the guy who Reggie Miller always yelled at before Pacers games.

That’s how those of us of a certain age with a passing interest in the Pacers remember Benner — in TV clips of the team’s longtime media relations director and great shooter of all time chewing on their pre-match ritual.

As tipoff came moments later and we moved on, Benner left something here in Indianapolis: a legacy.

Benner died on March 1, 2023 after a long battle with cancer. He was 67 years old. IndyStar Columnist Gregg Doyel wrote this that day:

“David Benner wouldn’t say he was dying. Not his style. And he was a man of style – and substance. He worked for IndyStar from 1979 to 1994, worked his way up the status ladder from copycat to the biggest beats in sports before switching gears and working for the Pacers in media relations An unusual career move, something only the strongest of souls could do, but that was Benner. one of the strongest souls around.

THE Lifetime Hoosier was also an initiate. He grew up in Center Grove, attended IU-Bloomington and IUPUI, reported on the Pacers, Notre Dame football and IU basketball during his career at IndyStar, and later worked 28 years for the Pacers.

See that photo of Miller’s arm around Benner at his retirement ceremony? It’s inside. This authentic connection was the basis of their pregame ritual, which Miller recounted at Benner’s memorial service:

“I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s David Benner. He’s the public relations director for the Pacers. But his real job, though, is to be my antagonist,'” Miller said. “Their eyes get really big, like, ‘Antagonist? What do you mean?’ and I’m like, ‘Well, he’s basically getting paid to say mean things to my face.'”

This ritual was special – everyone could see it – and earned through years of building connections and trust.

Connection and trust – the building blocks of community.

IndyStar is proud to have been a part of the Benner community. From your community.

That’s why we’ve partnered with the Pacers Foundation and Pacers Sports & Entertainment, along with Benner’s family and friends, to create the David Benner Memorial Scholarship.

Announced during the Pacers’ Oct. 27 home opener against the 76ers, the $2,500 annual scholarships will support undergraduate students pursuing careers in journalism, radio, television, digital broadcasting and other disciplines .

“David Benner epitomized excellence, professionalism and dedication,” his brother Bill Benner said in a Pacers Foundation release. “Having his name and reputation carried by this Pacers Foundation scholarship and the students who benefit from it is a wonderful tribute to his exemplary career.

Applicants must be enrolled in a four- or two-year college or university in Indiana, and applications, which will be accepted through April 25, 2025, can be found at Pacersfoundation.org/david-benner-memorial-scholarship.

Individual donations to the scholarship fund can also be done online.

There will never be another David Benner. But his legacy can live on for the Pacers and IndyStar, perhaps one day thanks to an exemplary employee aided by the scholarship that bears Benner’s name.

Eric Larsen is editor-in-chief of IndyStar. Contact him at [email protected] or 317-444-7342.

This article was originally published on the Indianapolis Star: Indiana Pacers and IndyStar Create David Benner Journalism Fellowship