“Red” McCombs, owner of NBA and NFL teams, dies at the age of 95
Billy Joe “Red” McCombs, former owner of two NBA teams, an NFL franchise and longtime Texas businessman, died Monday at his home in San Antonio, according to a statement from his family.
McCombs was 95 years old and in 2019 his wife Charline died.
“The entire McCombs family is heartbroken to announce that our father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Red McCombs, passed away on Sunday, February 19, 2023,” the statement said, calling McCombs “a Texas icon.” .
“Red was a visionary entrepreneur who touched many lives and impacted our community in immeasurable ways,” the statement said. “But to us, he was always ‘Dad’ or ‘Poppop’ first and foremost.”
According to the McCombs Enterprises website, McCombs owned more than 400 companies during his lifetime, and the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin is named for him.
He twice owned the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs, and between those two owners, the league’s Denver Nuggets and later the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings.
In a statement, the Vikings McCombs expressed their gratitude and condolences to his family.
“Red embodied his famous ‘Purple Pride’ line and remained a staunch Viking fan,” after selling his ownership of the team, the statement said.
“While Red had a clear passion for the sport, it was evident that what he loved most was his children and grandchildren,” the statement said.
McCombs also played a big part in bringing Formula 1 back to the United States. He was a major investor in Austin’s Circuit of the Americas, the first purpose-built F1 circuit in the United States and home of the US Grand Prix since 2012.
The Texas circuit and annual Grand Prix have been pivotal in the global racing series’ efforts to establish and expand a significant presence in the United States. Formula 1 will compete three times in the country in 2023, in Austin and Miami and the debut of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
He started out as an automobile salesman in Corpus Christi, Texas in the early 1950’s and later founded Red McCombs Automotive, a group of dealerships in San Antonio.
He later founded McCombs Energy, an oil and gas company, and operated real estate and land development companies, cattle ranches and breeding operations. 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 as he embodies a relentless and passionate approach to life, relationships and community,” Jones said.
McCombs is survived by daughters Lynda McCombs, Marsha Shields and Connie McNab, eight grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
Funerals were not announced.
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