MACON — One of the National Basketball Association’s most respected front office executives, Pete Babcock of the Atlanta Hawks will be the featured speaker at the Nov. 19th Executive Forum of Mercer University. The breakfast presentation will begin at 7:30 a.m. in the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in Macon.
Babcock, who is in his 13th season as the Atlanta team’s vice president and general manager, oversees the daily management and direction of the Hawks, including personnel transactions such as trades, free agent acquisitions and selecting from the collegiate draft. The basketball executive also serves on the NBA’s Steering Committee for Competition and Rules and was appointed in 1995 to the prestigious Senior National team Committee, which makes selections for the U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball team and coaching staff.
Hired by the Hawks in 1990, Babcock’s career in the NBA began as a regional scout for the then New Orleans Jazz, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks. In 1980 he became an assistant coach for the San Diego Clippers and was later promoted to director of player personnel and ultimately vice president of basketball operations. In 1984 he moved to the Denver Nuggets and was promoted to president and general manager in 1987.
Actively involved in the community, Babcock volunteers his time with Special Olympics and many other youth-oriented programs. He began a monthly series for high school students called “Success Seminars” and began male mentoring programs in elementary schools. He received the Golden Apple Award from the Atlanta Public Schools in 1996 for his volunteer efforts.
Babcock has also assisted with a White House position paper titled “Building Character Through Sport.” He has testified before Congress on budgeting for drug abuse prevention programs and was honored by President Ronald Reagan for his contributions in support of Native American youth. In 1992-93, Babcock was named Sports Personality of the Year by the Georgia Special Olympics, and his biography is included in the book of success stories, Storms of Perfection.
A 1971 graduate of Arizona State University with a degree in political science, Babcock earned his master’s degree from Arizona State in 1976 before beginning a career in education as a teacher and coach in Phoenix. He and his wife, Yo, have two daughters and live in Marietta. His brothers Rob and Dave are also involved in the NBA as personnel executives.
As Georgia’s premier business enrichment program, the Executive Forum is a membership-based speaker series designed to link the business community to Mercer’s Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics. Established in 1979, the Executive Forum serves as a resource for working professionals in Atlanta and Macon and provides an opportunity for executives to hear from some of the country’s most sought-after speakers, while interacting with other business leaders.
The event is open to Executive Forum members and their guests. Anyone interested in becoming a member can call the Mercer University Office of University Advancement at (478) 301-2715.
Editor’s Note: Media interested in covering this event or interviewing Pete Babcock should contact Rick Cameron at (478) 301-5500.
