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Jimmy “Bubba” Hewitt, Orlando Magic co-founder who died Sunday, gave us pro sports | Commentary

Jimmy Hewitt — the Central Florida businessman who co-founded the Orlando Magic and fondly called all of his friends and acquaintances “Bubba” — died early Sunday morning at the age of 79.

Hewitt grew up in Orlando in a one-parent home, played running back at Edgewater High School where his nickname was “Shifty,” worked his way through Florida State University and became a self-made millionaire. He and his brother, Bob, established themselves as entrepreneurs by founding a chain of daycare centers called “The Child’s Place” that eventually was sold to Gerber — the national baby food company.

Hewitt’s legacy will be that of a caring father to son, Ben and daughter, Whitney; a loving husband of nearly 60 years to wife Rosemary; and a man of tremendous faith and spirituality, but to sports fans in Orlando he will always be remembered as the father and founder of the Orlando Magic.