INDIANAPOLIS — For 28 years, Benny walked into the home of the Indiana Pacers where he promoted and protected the city’s NBA team and all the staff, players and coaches that came along with it.
His name was actually David Benner, but media types and the people inside Market Square Arena turned Conseco Fieldhouse turned Bankers Life turned Gainbridge called their beloved Pacers PR guy “Benny.”
When Benner died two years ago, after a battle with cancer, he left everyone from his good friend Reggie Miller to game ushers to coworkers to family and friends feeling the void.
As his good friend Mark Robinson puts it, “We were devastated when David passed away.” So the people who loved Benner rallied together to do something to carry on his legacy.
On Tuesday afternoon, another Benny walked into Gainbridge — a handsome, 11-month-old ICAN service dog in training — to meet the same people who called the human “Benny” coworker and friend. It was emotional and wonderful.
“He reminds us of David, how he’s so loyal and easygoing most of the time,” said Robinson, “but then will do something funny when you least expect it.”
Robinson’s wife, Suzanne, came up with the idea to sponsor an ICAN (Indiana Canine Assistant Network) dog in Benner’s memory because he and his wife, Jane, loved animals, especially dogs. Through the years, the two have adopted several rescue dogs.
With Jane’s approval, the Robinson’s put together a list of Benner’s family, friends and co-workers (current and past) who they thought would want to be a part of honoring him. A total of 32 people agreed to donate.
Most of them were Benner’s former co-workers at IndyStar where he was a sportswriter until the age of 39 when he took on the job of media relations with the Pacers, staying for 28 years. Other donors work for the Pacers and still others were Benner’s family members and friends, some going back to his childhood growing up in Johnson County.
The ICAN sponsorship included the right to name the dog. Jane chose the name Benny because so many of Benner’s Pacers co-workers and media called him that.
“Benny has been doing great so far, and while he is still a puppy and occasionally reminds us of that, he is very smart and eager to please,” said Robinson, who along with Suzanne, are fostering Benny as he’s on furlough from his ICAN training.
Most of his two-year training happens in a prison setting. The furlough portion is a way to expose Benny to different public situations, such as restaurants, stores, offices and meeting new people — just like he did at Gainbridge on Tuesday.
If all goes well, Benny will graduate next spring and then be placed with an individual as a certified service dog or he may become a “facility dog” at a school or another organization.
It’s not easy to pass the ICAN test, said Robinson. Dogs have to be nearly perfect. Benny is on his way and has 32 people rooting alongside him.
“We really want him to graduate,” said Robinson, “and carry on David’s legacy.”
Follow IndyStar sports reporter Dana Benbow on X: @DanaBenbow. Reach her via email: [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: ICAN: Meet Benny, legacy of late, beloved Pacers PR guru David Benner
INDIANAPOLIS — For 28 years, Benny walked into the home of the Indiana Pacers where he promoted and protected the city’s NBA team and all the staff, players and coaches that came along with it.
His name was actually David Benner, but media types and the people inside Market Square Arena turned Conseco Fieldhouse turned Bankers Life turned Gainbridge called their beloved Pacers PR guy “Benny.”
When Benner died two years ago, after a battle with cancer, he left everyone from his good friend Reggie Miller to game ushers to coworkers to family and friends feeling the void.
As his good friend Mark Robinson puts it, “We were devastated when David passed away.” So the people who loved Benner rallied together to do something to carry on his legacy.
On Tuesday afternoon, another Benny walked into Gainbridge — a handsome, 11-month-old ICAN service dog in training — to meet the same people who called the human “Benny” coworker and friend. It was emotional and wonderful.
“He reminds us of David, how he’s so loyal and easygoing most of the time,” said Robinson, “but then will do something funny when you least expect it.”
Robinson’s wife, Suzanne, came up with the idea to sponsor an ICAN (Indiana Canine Assistant Network) dog in Benner’s memory because he and his wife, Jane, loved animals, especially dogs. Through the years, the two have adopted several rescue dogs.
With Jane’s approval, the Robinson’s put together a list of Benner’s family, friends and co-workers (current and past) who they thought would want to be a part of honoring him. A total of 32 people agreed to donate.
Most of them were Benner’s former co-workers at IndyStar where he was a sportswriter until the age of 39 when he took on the job of media relations with the Pacers, staying for 28 years. Other donors work for the Pacers and still others were Benner’s family members and friends, some going back to his childhood growing up in Johnson County.
The ICAN sponsorship included the right to name the dog. Jane chose the name Benny because so many of Benner’s Pacers co-workers and media called him that.
“Benny has been doing great so far, and while he is still a puppy and occasionally reminds us of that, he is very smart and eager to please,” said Robinson, who along with Suzanne, are fostering Benny as he’s on furlough from his ICAN training.
Most of his two-year training happens in a prison setting. The furlough portion is a way to expose Benny to different public situations, such as restaurants, stores, offices and meeting new people — just like he did at Gainbridge on Tuesday.
If all goes well, Benny will graduate next spring and then be placed with an individual as a certified service dog or he may become a “facility dog” at a school or another organization.
It’s not easy to pass the ICAN test, said Robinson. Dogs have to be nearly perfect. Benny is on his way and has 32 people rooting alongside him.
“We really want him to graduate,” said Robinson, “and carry on David’s legacy.”
Follow IndyStar sports reporter Dana Benbow on X: @DanaBenbow. Reach her via email: [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: ICAN: Meet Benny, legacy of late, beloved Pacers PR guru David Benner
