Born in Springfield, Mass. in 1917, Lawrence F. O’Brien (LOB) received a law degree from Northeastern University in 1942 and served in the Army during World War II. He began his political career in 1938 and participated in congressional and senatorial campaigns before being involved on the national level. LOB’s book on the organization of political campaigns, The O’Brien Manual, which was first printed in 1960, became an election guide for both political parties in the United States and was used in foreign countries. LOB oversaw the successful campaigns of several politicians including President John F. Kennedy (1960) and President Lyndon Johnson (1964). As Special Assistant for Congressional Relations under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson between 1961 and 1965, he helped develop the legislative programs of the “New Frontier” and the “Great Society.” LOB was a member of the Cabinet during the Johnson Administration as Postmaster General and was twice National Chairman of the Democratic Party. He also directed the presidential campaigns of Robert F. Kennedy (1968), Hubert Humphrey (1968), and George S. McGovern (1972). In 1972 LOB’s office at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate was broken into by members of President Nixon’s administration, the scandal over the resulting cover-up of which led to Nixon’s resignation. In 1974 LOB published his autobiography entitled No Final Victories.

Following a long career in national politics, in 1975 LOB was elected Commissioner of the National Basketball Association, a post he held until 1984. He oversaw several significant changes within the NBA, most notably labor agreements that were landmarks in professional sports. In 1976 the NBA and its Players Association settled the so-called Oscar Robertson suit, which created a system of free agency for veteran players and finally enabled the NBA to absorb the four strongest teams from the rival American Basketball Association. On March 31, 1983 another collective bargaining agreement between the league and its Players’ Association was announced. Also in 1983 LOB helped the NBA and its Players Association adopt a far-reaching anti-drug program. The most noticeable change to the rules of basketball during LOB’s tenure as Commissioner was the adoption in 1979 of the three-point field goal rule. Under LOB, the NBA grew by adding the Dallas Mavericks, the 23rd team franchise. LOB negotiated record-setting network and cable television contracts for the NBA. He developed NBA Properties into a full-fledged licensing and marketing arm of the NBA to provide the league with increased exposure and revenue. In 1980 the NBA created a College Scholarship Program.

In addition to receiving an honorary Doctor of Humanics degree from and delivering the commencement address at Springfield College in 1982, LOB also was awarded honorary degrees from Western New England College, Villanova University, Loyola University, Xavier University, American International College, Wheeling College, St. Anselm’s College, Northeastern University, Seton Hall University, and Bryant College.

1917 July 7 Born, Springfield, Mass.

1942 Graduated Northeastern University

1942-1945 Served in U.S. Army during World War II

1948 Directed the U.S. congressional campaign of Foster Furculo, who won the Massachusetts seat by 15,000 votes

1948-1950 Administrative Assistant to Furculo in Washington, D.C.

1952 Directed state-wide organization for the election of John F. Kennedy for the U.S. Senate

1952-1958 Served as advisor to Senator John F. Kennedy

1959 Named director of organization for Kennedy for President campaign

1960 Wrote “The O’Brien Manual,” a guide for political campaign managers

1961-1963 Special Assistant for Congressional Relations under President Kennedy

1963-1965 Special Assistant for Congressional Relations under President Johnson

1965-1968 Named by President Lyndon B. Johnson to his Cabinet as Postmaster General of the United States

1968-1969 National Chairman of the Democratic Party

1970-1972 National Chairman of the Democratic Party

1972 LOB’s office at the Watergate as National Chairman of the Democratic Party broken into

1972 Temporary and permanent Chairman of the Democratic National Convention in Miami

1974 Wrote No Final Victories: A Life in Politics from John F. Kennedy to Watergate

1975 June 1 Elected Commissioner of the National Basketball Association

1976 Named “Sportsman of the Year” by The Sporting News

1976 Named “Man of the Year” by Basketball Weekly

1977 September Received Brotherhood Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews

1982 May 30 Received Honorary Doctor of Humanics degree from and delivered the commencement address at Springfield College

1983 November 9 Declines multi-year contract offer and announces he will terminate his role as Commissioner of the NBA upon expiration of his existing contract on February 1, 1984

1984 NBA Championship Trophy named in LOB’s honor

1985-1987 President, Basketball Hall of Fame

1990 September 27 Died

1976 NBA reached agreement on collective bargaining pact with the league’s Players Association and a settlement of the Oscar Robertson suit, which created a system of free agency for veteran players

1976 NBA absorbed the four strongest teams (Denver, San Antonio, Indiana, and the New York Nets) from the American Basketball Association

1977 NBA regular season and playoff attendance climbs over 10 million for the first time

1978 NBA signs $74 million, four-year agreement with CBS for continued network television coverage

1979 NBA adopts the three-point field goal, the only major rule change under LOB

1980 LOB oversees League expansion to 23 teams with the addition of the Dallas Mavericks

1980 NBA creates College Scholarship Program

1982 NBA signs $88 million, four-year agreement with CBS, another record-setting network contract for the League

1982 NBA signs lucrative two-year agreements with ESPN and USA cable television networks

1983 March 31 NBA signs landmark collective bargaining agreement with its Players Association

1983 NBA and the Players Association agree to innovative and stringent anti-drug program