One of the original Trail Blazers, Ed Manning, passed away yesterday at the age of 68.

Selected from Chicago in the 1970 NBA Expansion Draft, Manning appeared in 79 games during Portland’s inaugural 1970-71 season. He averaged 7.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in his only year with the Trail Blazers and last in the NBA.

“It’s a sad day as we have lost an original Trail Blazer with the passing of Ed Manning,” said Trail Blazers President Larry Miller. “We’ll honor Ed with a moment of silence tonight pregame. Our thoughts, prayers and condolences go out to the Manning family and friends.”

Manning continued his basketball career in the ABA following his stint in Portland. He played in 604 games over nine seasons in the NBA and ABA from 1967-76, averaging 5.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 0.8 assists.

Following his playing days, Manning served as an assistant coach at North Carolina A&T and then under Larry Brown at the University of Kansas from 1984-88. The Jayhawks won the National Championship in 1988 when his son and current Kansas assistant coach, Danny Manning , was named the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player.

More recently, Manning worked as an assistant coach and scout with the San Antonio Spurs.

“Ed was an important part of our first Blazer team and what a fine gentleman he was,” said Trail Blazers President Emeritus Harry Glickman. “He later became an assistant coach for several teams in the NBA and is probably most noted that his son, Danny, became the first pick in the NBA draft in 1988.”

The Trail Blazers will hold a moment of silence in honor of Manning prior to tonight’s game against the Charlotte Bobcats.