Tom Hicks, the Texas businessman and private equity pioneer who once owned the Dallas Stars and the Texas Rangers and who took a stake in Liverpool FC, died Saturday in Dallas at age 79. His family and spokespeople said he passed away surrounded by loved ones.
In a statement, his children called him their guiding force and wrote that of everything he accomplished in his remarkable life, Hicks's favorite title was simply “Dad.” Services are still being arranged, according to the family release cited by PR Newswire.
Business Career And Public Service
Hicks made his name in the world of buyouts and private equity, co-founding Hicks & Haas and later Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst, firms that helped define aggressive dealmaking in the 1980s and 1990s. He also served on the University of Texas Board of Regents and in the Army Reserves, roles that rounded out a résumé that stretched well beyond the boardroom, according to the Associated Press.
Anfield And The Fallout
In 2007, Hicks and partner George Gillett bought a 50 percent stake in Liverpool, stepping into one of world football’s most pressure-filled ownership jobs. The club notes that their tenure ended with the 2010 sale to Fenway Sports Group, a transfer that closed a turbulent chapter at Anfield that included public clashes with club leadership and fan protests. Hicks later admitted he made mistakes in how it all unfolded, saying he “picked the wrong partner,” according to coverage cited by Liverpool FC.
Dallas Sports Legacy
Hicks left a more straightforward legacy in Dallas. Under his ownership the Stars captured the 1999 Stanley Cup, and the Texas Rangers won three division titles and reached the 2010 World Series. Those on-field highs, and the broader rundown of his sports holdings, are documented in contemporary reports from the Associated Press.
Off the ice and diamond, Hicks threw his weight behind civic projects and downtown development in North Texas, helping shape the cityscape as well as its box scores. After news of his death broke, peers in Dallas offered personal tributes. Ross Perot Jr. called him “an innovative businessman and a pioneer in private equity,” and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones remembered him as “a close friend and a great partner,” according to the family statement reported by PR Newswire.
Hicks is survived by his wife of 35 years, Cinda Cree Hicks, six children and a large extended family. They said they plan to keep building on his legacy while they mourn. Public details about services and memorials had not yet been announced, according to The Independent.
