Photo courtesy of Dallas Stars.
Tom Hicks, longtime neighbor and former owner of the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers, died on Saturday at 79.
In a statement, spokesperson Lisa LeMaster said Hicks died peacefully, surrounded by family in Dallas.
The Texas businessman graduated from the University of Texas with a bachelor’s degree in 1968 and from the University of Southern California with a master’s in business administration in 1970.
In 1984, he founded Hicks & Haas, followed by the founding of the private equity firm Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst (now known as HM Capital Partners) in 1989. Over the span of his career, Hicks became a real estate and local sports magnate, overseeing mergers like that of soft-drink companies Dr. Pepper and 7 Up.
He owned the Dallas Stars from 1995-2011. During his tenure, Hicks saw the Stars win the Stanley Cup in 1999 and was instrumental in the development of American Airlines Center. In a statement, the Stars said Hicks played a key role in “the grassroots growth of hockey through the creation of numerous StarCenter facilities.”
From 1998-2010, Hicks owned the Texas Rangers, during which the team won the American League West Division. Shortly after he sold the team, the Rangers made their first World Series appearance.
In 2007, Hicks acquired a 50% stake in Liverpool Football Club, the soccer team in the English Premier League.
For almost 20 years, Hicks owned the Crespi estate in Mayflower Estates, where he was neighbors with George and Laura Bush.
Hicks’ six children released a joint statement, which said, “Of everything he accomplished in his remarkable life, Tom Hicks’ most cherished title was ‘Dad.’ No matter the trials and tribulations he faced in life, he was constant in his generosity and love for his family. He remains a guiding force for our family, and we are deeply honored to continue his legacy. Although we are devastated by this loss, we are profoundly grateful to have been his children.”