Former NBA, NFL team owner, businessman Red McCombs dies

A formerowner of two NBA teams, an NFL franchise and longtime Texasbusinessman, Billy Joe “Red” McCombs has died at his home in SanAntonio, according to a statement from his family on Monday.

McCombs was95 and preceded in death by his wife, Charline, in 2019.

“The entireMcCombs family is heartbroken to announce that our father,grandfather and great-grandfather, Red McCombs passed away Sunday,Feb. 19, 2023,” according to the statement that called McCombs “aTexas icon.”

“Red was avisionary entrepreneur who touched many lives and impacted ourcommunity in immeasurable ways,” the statement said. “But to us hewas always, first and foremost, ‘Dad’ or ‘Poppop.’”

McCombs ownedmore than 400 businesses during his lifetime, according totheMcCombs Enterprises website,and theMcCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin isnamed for him.

He twiceowned the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs and between those two ownershipstints owned the league’s Denver Nuggets and later the MinnesotaVikings of the NFL.

In astatement, the Vikings expressed gratitude to McCombs andcondolences to his family.

“Red embodiedhis famous ‘Purple Pride’ phrase and remained a staunch Vikingsfan” after selling his ownership of the team, according to thestatement.

Beginning asan automobile salesman in the early 1950s in Corpus Christi, Texas,he would later establish Red McCombs Automotive, a group ofdealerships in San Antonio.

He laterestablished McCombs Energy, an oil and gas industry company, andoperated real estate and land development companies, cattle ranchesand breeding operations. He also was a co-founder of Clear ChannelCommunications, which later became iHeartCommunications, Inc.

DallasCowboys owner Jerry Jones called McCombs an inspiration and “a trueTexas titan across sports, media, business and philanthropy.”

“Red’sdetermination, accomplishments and positive spirit will liveforever as he embodied a relentless and passionate approach tolife, relationships and community,” Jones said.

McCombs issurvived by daughters Lynda McCombs, Marsha Shields and ConnieMcNab, as well as eight grandchildren and 11great-grandchildren.

Funeralservices were not announced.