For 59 years, Olivia Ladson welcomed Spurs fans with warmth and pride. Now, at 97, family, friends and the team honor the beloved usher’s lasting legacy.
SAN ANTONIO — Olivia H. Ladson never played a minute on the court, but for generations of San Antonio Spurs fans, she was just as much a part of the team.
Ladson, a beloved usher whose tenure with the organization stretched nearly six decades, died April 9 at the age of 97.
On Friday, family, friends and members of the Spurs organization gathered at Lewis Funeral Home to honor her life and legacy— one defined by loyalty, warmth and an unwavering love for the team.
Before the Frost Bank Center, before the Alamodome and even before the Spurs’ championship years, there was Ladson — greeting fans, helping them find their seats and making them feel at home.
The Spurs marked her decades of service with a special tribute, presenting a framed jersey bearing her name and the number 59 — a nod to her years as an usher, a role she held from the Chaparral days through November 2025.
“On behalf of the Spurs organization and her many, many, many years, we would like to present this jersey,” said Shannon Walsh with Spurs Sports and Entertainment. “There were so many individuals and our guests that were touched by Olivia.”
The viewing drew a large crowd, with attendees filling pews in Spurs and Dallas Cowboys gear in tribute to Ladson’s favorite teams. Her usher uniform was displayed beside her casket, alongside autographed photos of Spurs legends.
“She was our queen, she was our matriarch,” said her niece, Carmen White Janak.
Ladson’s connection to the Spurs began through food. She and her husband owned a catering business that served the Chaparrals, the team that eventually became the Spurs. She later applied to be an usher — and stayed for 59 years.
That passion for cooking extended far beyond the arena — and into future generations.
“She passed on her cooking recipes… she always wanted me to go forward with my sports career,” said her great-granddaughter, Zaria Alsbrooks.
Janak said Ladson’s dedication was unmatched, recalling how she would walk from her home to games at multiple venues because she did not drive.
“People did not believe that she would walk … everywhere the Spurs have played,” Janak said.
Over time, Ladson became a fixture of the fan experience — known for her warm greetings, familiar presence and generosity.
“She’s the grandma of the charter level,” said her granddaughter, LaToya Ladson. “When they come in, it’s ‘Hey Miss Olivia!’ She’s baking goods, sharing goods.”
Her devotion to the Spurs extended far beyond the arena. She collected Spurs bobbleheads and proudly wore a championship ring around her neck, family members said.
Even in the hospital, that passion never faded. Nurses decorated her room in Spurs gear and often stopped by to watch games with her.
Family members said Ladson rarely missed a game — even near the end of her life.
“Even in the hospital when the Spurs game was on, ‘Turn the game on!’,” LaToya said. “She may have been in her transition, but she wasn’t missing a game.”
For colleagues, Ladson set the tone for what it meant to be part of the organization.
“She’s the one that makes all of us be better people,” said fellow Spurs employee Ron Black. “Just being around her.”
Her legacy now continues through her family, several of whom also work for the Spurs.
“Actually now the whole family is working with the Spurs — my mother’s there, my aunt and my little cousin,” LaToya said.
“Every game she would give us tickets to go!” Alsbrooks added.
In a statement, Spurs Sports and Entertainment described Ladson as “as much a Spurs legend and embodiment of our values as those who took to the court,” adding that she brought “joy and light to thousands of staff and attendees.”
Born in Hondo, Texas, Ladson later moved to San Antonio, where she graduated from Phyllis Wheatley High School. She went on to attend Prairie View A&M University on a basketball scholarship and later continued her education at St. Philip’s College and Southwest Texas State University.
Outside of her work with the Spurs, Ladson had a lifelong passion for bowling, building a career that spanned more than 75 years and earned her numerous accolades. She was also known for her independence, often walking or taking the bus to stay active throughout her life.
She’s survived by one sister, three daughters, five grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
When asked about her favorite player, Ladson’s answer never wavered.
“Who’s your favorite player?” her granddaughter recalled. “She said, ‘The Spurs….if you have a Spurs uniform on, you’re my favorite player.’”
A celebration of life for Ladson is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at New Word Covenant Church.
