carr - Community Work Services

M.L.CARR

SPORTS

M.L. Carr started his famed professional basketball career after graduating from Guilford College in 1973, where he was named All American and led his team to the NAIA Championship. Upon graduating, he was drafted by both the Kentucky Colonels from the American Basketball Association and the Kansas City Kings from the National Basketball Association. The following season, he played for the Israel Sabras in the European Pro Basketball League, where he was named MVP for guiding his team to the championship.

In 1975, Carr played for the Spirits of St. Louis in the ABA and was named to the ABA’s All-Rookie team. When the ABA and NBA merged, he joined the NBA by playing for the Detroit Pistons from 1976-79, where he was selected to the All-Defense second team during the 1979 season, after leading the league in steals.

After being regarded as one of the top sought-after free agents in 1979, Carr signed with the Boston Celtics, where he played from 1979-85. During his tenure with the Celtics, he won two NBA World Championships in 1981 and 1984. He is best known for the steal and dunk he made in the 1984 NBA finals to seal the victory for the Celtics against the Lakers. He is also famous for waving a towel to fire up the fans and his teammates.

Carr later became Director of Basketball Operations for the Celtics in 1994. The following year, he joined Red Auerbach as the only other Celtic to hold dual titles as Director of Basketball Operations and Head Couch during the 1994-95 and 1996-97 seasons. After the 1997 season, he became the Celtics’ Director of Corporate Development. In 2004, Carr became a minority owner of the NBA Charlotte Bobcats.

BUSINESS

Since retiring from the Boston Celtics in 1985, Carr launched M.L. Enterprises, a sports marketing/motivational speaking/business consulting firm. He became a spokesperson for such companies as Bank of Boston, New Balance Athletic Shoe, Putnam Investments and Massachusetts Financial Services. Mr. Carr is now a partner with New Technology Ventures, a private equity/venture firm located in Newton, Massachusetts. He currently serves as CEO of dSideAI.

PHILANTHROPY

Since his professional playing days, Carr has always made a strong commitment to give back to the community. He has received numerous awards for his community work including the President’s Citation award for the “M.L. Carr Stand Tall Against Drugs Program,” Ten Outstanding Young Leaders Award, Dr. Martin Luther King Image Award, Camille Cosby Award and Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Salem State College to name a few. He is also the founder of the M.L. Carr Scholarship Fund at Guilford College and the John Henry Carr Alzheimer’s and Aging Foundation.

BOARDS

Carr has served on several boards, including CBS affiliate Channel 7/Boston, New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc., and Guilford College. Currently he serves on the boards of dSideAI and New Technology Ventures.

AUTHOR

Carr is the author of three books; Don’t Be Denied (autobiography), Enough is Enough (a book of poetry exposing all forms of discrimination, racism, sexism and anti-Semitism) and Winning Through Persistence (a motivational handbook).

PERSONAL

Carr grew up in Wallace, North Carolina, and currently resides in Boston, Massachusetts. Carr and his wife Sylvia have three children, four granddaughters and one grandson.