Harry Agganis (left, leaping past an Oregon receiver as BU quarterback in 1951) inspired his nephew Michael’s giving.

In honor of his uncle Harry, Michael Agganis has given generously to BU for decades

For nearly 50 years, Michael Agganis (Wheelock’67) couldn’t speak a word about his uncle Harry Agganis (Wheelock’54), the star BU athlete and Red Sox first baseman who tragically passed away in 1955 at only 26 years old.

Harry, just 13 years his senior, was “like a brother to me,” says Michael. “For years, I had many, many people tell me stories about him, but it was too emotional for me to talk about him.” Michael couldn’t even bring himself to attend Harry’s posthumous induction into the College Football Hall of Fame or look at his statue displayed at The Sports Museum in TD Garden.

In 2003, however, he received a phone call that changed everything. “My uncle Phil called and said, ‘Boston University wants to name the sports arena after Harry,’” he remembers. “‘I know how close you were with Harry. Can you take the reins?’”

Michael agreed. And over the next year, he worked closely with BU Athletics to prepare for the 2004 dedication of Agganis Arena and unveiling of a life-size bronze statue of Harry branded with his nickname, “The Golden Greek.”

But Michael didn’t stop there. In Harry’s honor, he established a scholarship for BU student-athletes, donated generously to the Athletics endowment, and joined the Board of Trustees’ athletic and fundraising committees and what is now the University Advisory Board.

What’s more, “the majority of my estate is going to BU,” Michael says. “That’s out of appreciation of what BU has done for Harry. I will always be grateful.”

With his son, Michael also co-produced a two-hour documentary about Harry, and they have donated all proceeds from the film to BU to fund student-athlete scholarships.

That’s what Harry would have wanted, Michael says. “He started a scholarship; he gave money to the church. He was just a giving guy.”