George Hicker, a former player on the Syracuse University men’s basketball team and 1968 alumnus, resigned from his position on the Board of Trustees earlier this month.

Hicker, whose four-year term began in 2010, said he emailed Chancellor Nancy Cantor a one-sentence resignation message on Dec. 8. Cantor was traveling at the time and spoke with Hicker the following week.

‘I wouldn’t have made the decision if I didn’t feel OK about it,’ Hicker said. ‘Any time you have to do that it’s disappointing, but I think it was the right thing to do.’

Hicker said a variety of factors contributed to his resignation, including travel and family. Hicker cited his health as well, given he has artificial hips that make travel more difficult.

Hicker and his wife adopted two sons from a Russian orphanage through nonprofit organization Kidsave International five years ago. Hicker said he wants to spend more time with his family and, as president of Los Angeles real estate firm Cardinal Industrial, he already has more than enough on his plate.

‘Your head’s got so much room for so many things before you kind of get worn out, and that was all part of the process,’ Hicker said.

Hicker was recently in the news for supporting Bernie Fine, the former associate men’s basketball coach facing allegations of sexual abuse, but said his relationship with Fine is just a secondary factor in his reasons for leaving the board. Hicker said he considers Fine a close friend because they met in 1965, and he said he wants to make sure he can support his friend if anything happens.

‘There may be a scenario in the future that nobody can predict,’ Hicker said. ‘I don’t know what scenario that is. But there might be something where Bernie will need whatever kind of help and my being a trustee might conflict with what he needs.’

Hicker previously told The Daily Orange he defended Fine and strongly affirmed Fine’s innocence. After some readers perceived his comments negatively, Hicker said he spoke with board Chairman Richard Thompson and decided it would be best to clarify his comments through a Letter to the Editor, published in The Daily Orange on Nov. 30.

Though Hicker continues to defend Fine, he said it was not his intention for those sentiments to discourage any victim of abuse to come forward.

‘I don’t want anyone to interpret me as being insensitive and be hurt by that,’ Hicker said about his comments in support of Fine. ‘I never want to make a kid’s life more difficult than it has already been.’

Hicker said he has been in touch with both Fine and head coach Jim Boeheim since the initial allegations began. Fine, Boeheim and Hicker are business associates. Hicker is the managing member of their limited liability company, so at the very least they communicate about their investments, Hicker said.

Hicker said he is coping with the added stress stemming from the Fine allegations and hopes for Fine’s exoneration.

‘If one of your best friends for almost your entire life was accused of this — it’s stressful,’ Hicker said. ‘You’re confident that they are innocent, and you pray for their vindication.’

Hicker said his involvement in the university will remain, even without his membership on the Board.

‘George Hicker will be missed on the Board of Trustees,’ Thompson said. ‘His support of the athletic programs has been outstanding. George’s role in securing a building for the university’s expanded presence in Los Angeles was absolutely critical. I hope he will continue to be active with the university for many years to come.’

Hicker is a benefactor of the university and said he, along with a handful of others, including Athletic Director Daryl Gross, helped initiate the construction of the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center. His $2 million donation helped create the center as well as fund the Ingwald and Lillian Hicker Plaza, named in honor of his parents.

Hicker contributed to the SU football team, inspired by changes that head coach Doug Marrone brought to the program. Additionally, Hicker was instrumental in the creation of a physical SU in LA center in Los Angeles. Hicker said he narrowed down seven building options to the one that is used now and negotiated the lease between the owners and the university. Hicker is also working to create a program for disadvantaged individuals with alumnus Brian McLane, strategic adviser to SU’s Inclusive Campus Initiative.

‘George is a great friend of the University,’ Cantor said in a statement Wednesday. ‘We understand his commitments on the West Coast and he assured me that that he will continue to support Syracuse as he always has, whether it be our LA campus, providing support to further create an inclusive campus, or via Athletics.’

mainthia@syr.edu

Editor in Chief Dara McBride contributed reporting to this article.

Published on December 19, 2011 at 12:00 pm