Tom Hicks, the influential Texas businessman and former owner of the Dallas Stars, Texas Rangers, and Liverpool FC, died on March 9, 2024, at the age of 79. Known for his significant contributions to both the sports and private equity sectors, Hicks’s passing marks the loss of a prominent figure in American sports.
Hicks owned the NHL’s Dallas Stars from 1995 to 2011. Under his leadership, the team achieved remarkable success, culminating in a Stanley Cup victory in 1999. He also held ownership of the Texas Rangers from 1998 to 2010, during which time the team secured three American League West Division titles and made a World Series appearance. In 2007, Hicks expanded his sports portfolio by acquiring a 50% stake in Liverpool FC, a notable club in the English Premier League.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones expressed his condolences in a statement, emphasizing the personal bond they shared. “Being shoulder to shoulder with him was always about more than ballparks and stadiums, though. It was about personal respect, trust, and friendship. I’ll miss him greatly,” Jones said.
Hicks co-founded Hicks & Haas in 1984 and later established Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst in 1989, playing a pivotal role in shaping the private equity landscape. Fellow Texas businessman Ross Perot Jr. described Hicks as an innovative leader who intertwined his passion for sports with his business acumen. “He combined his commitment to business and sports through his ownership of the Stars and the Rangers,” Perot noted.
Beyond his business endeavors, Hicks served as a paratrooper in the Army Reserves and held the position of Commissioner of the American Battle Monuments Commission. His dedication to education included a term on the University of Texas’s Board of Regents from 1994 to 1999.
Hicks is survived by his wife of 35 years, Cinda Cree Hicks, and their six children: Thomas Ollis Hicks Jr., Mack Hardin Hicks, John Alexander Hicks, Robert Bradley Hicks, William Cree Hicks, and Catherine Forgrave Hicks. In a heartfelt tribute, his family shared, “Of everything he accomplished in his remarkable life, Tom Hicks’s most cherished title was, ‘Dad.’ His love for his family was constant, and we are honored to continue expanding his legacy.”
As tributes pour in from across the sports community and beyond, Tom Hicks’s impact on professional sports and private equity will be remembered for years to come.
