Former owner of two NBA teams, an NFL franchise and longtime Texas businessman, Billy Joe “Red” McCombs has died at his home in San Antonio, according to a statement from his family on Friday.
McCombs was 95 and was preceded in death by his wife, Charline, in 2019.
“The entire McCombs family is saddened to announce that my father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Red McCombs passed away Sunday, February 19, 2023,” according to a statement that called McCombs “a Texas icon.”
“Red is a visionary entrepreneur who touched many lives and impacted our community in immeasurable ways,” the statement said. “But to us he was always, first and foremost, ‘Daddy’ or ‘Poppop.'”
McCombs owned more than 400 businesses during his lifetime, according to the McCombs Enterprises website, and the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin is named for him.
He twice owned the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA and between those two ownerships owned the league’s Denver Nuggets and later the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL.
In a statement, the Vikings expressed their gratitude to McCombs and their condolences to his family.
“Red embodies the famous phrase ‘Purple Pride’ and remains a staunch Viking fan” after selling ownership of the team, according to the statement.
“While Red has an obvious passion for sports, the truth is that what he loves most is his children and grandchildren,” the statement said.
McCombs also played a big role in Formula One’s return to the United States. He is one of the biggest investors in the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, the first purpose-built F1 race in the US and has hosted the US Grand Prix since 2012.
The Texas circuit and the annual grand prix are important for the global racing series’ efforts to create and grow a significant presence in the US Formula One will race three times in the country in 2023, in Austin and Miami and debut at the Las Vegas Grand. Price.
Starting as a car salesman in the early 1950s in Corpus Christi, Texas, he went on to create Red McCombs Automotive, a group of dealers in San Antonio.
He later founded McCombs Energy, an oil and gas industry company, and operated a real estate and land development company, cattle ranch and breeding operation. He also co-founded Clear Channel Communications, which later became iHeartCommunications, Inc.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones called McCombs an inspiration and “a true Texas titan in sports, media, business and philanthropy.”
“Red’s determination, accomplishments and positive spirit will live on forever because of his relentless and passionate approach to life, relationships and community,” Jones said.
McCombs is survived by daughters Lynda McCombs, Marsha Shields and Connie McNab, as well as eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services have not been announced.
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