Texas billionaire and former co-owner of Liverpool Football Club, Tom Hicks, has died at the age of seventy nine.
His family confirmed that he passed away on Saturday in Dallas. The announcement was made through a statement released by Hicks Holdings LLC and shared on the Liverpool website on Sunday. The statement noted that he died peacefully while surrounded by his family.
Hicks was a familiar figure in American sports business. He owned the NHL side Dallas Stars from 1995 to 2011, a period in which the team lifted the 1999 Stanley Cup. He also controlled the Texas Rangers between 1998 and 2010 and guided the club to a World Series appearance.
His time in English football drew global attention. In 2007, he acquired a fifty per cent stake in Liverpool FC. His spell at Anfield was marked by financial battles and management disagreements that eventually pushed the club into a forced sale.
Tributes have been pouring in. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones described him as a true believer in sports and a passionate friend.
Jones said, “Tom was a close friend and a great partner. He dreamed big and watching him bring the Stanley Cup here to Dallas was something that I will always cherish. Fans could feel the heartbeat of our teams and our community together. We shared a lot of miles together and I will miss him greatly.”
Hicks is survived by his wife of thirty five years, Cinda Cree Hicks, six children and fourteen grandchildren. In another message shared by the family, they said his most treasured role was being a father.
“No matter the trials and tribulations he faced in life, he was constant in his generosity and love for his family,” they said.
