In a statement released Monday by the McCombs family, the San Antonio philanthropist and business icon Red McCombs passed away at his home on Sunday surrounded by family. He was 95.
In the statement released Monday, the family of McCombs, who was known as a car dealership and communications magnate and philanthropist, said he was surrounded by family.
The McCombs’ name is synonymous with car dealerships, communications, businesses and philanthropy throughout Central Texas, but sports were never far from his mind.
McCombs was instrumental in bringing the Spurs to San Antonio and owned the team on two separate occasions. He also spent time as owner of the Minnesota Vikings and Denver Nuggets.
The McCombs family released the following statement:
The entire McCombs Family is heartbroken to announce that our father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Red McCombs, passed away on Sunday February 19, 2023. As he drew his last breath peacefully at home, he was surrounded by family that loved and adored him.
Red was a visionary entrepreneur who touched many lives and impacted our community in immeasurable ways. But to us he was always, first and foremost, “Dad” or “Poppop.”
Red and Angelo Drossos “bulldozed” their way into the NBA during the 1976 merger meetings. His word. He would not take no for an answer, other wise the Spurs may have gone the way of the Spirits of St. Louis or the Kentucky Colonels. The Spurs are the Spurs because of Red McCombs
— Don Harris (@DonHarris4) February 20, 2023
Austinites know the name because the McCombs family donated $50 million to the University of Texas at Austin School of Business which netted $100 million with matching funds. The business school as we know if holds his name, as does the softball stadium and north end zone at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium
McCombs also co-founded Clear Channel with Lowry Mays in 1972.
In the early 1970s, McCombs and a group of local businessmen, including Angelo Drossos, John Schaefer and Art Burdick brought professional basketball to San Antonio. They purchased the Dallas Chaparrals in 1973 renaming the team the Spurs.
McCombs jumped into a second ownership deal of the Spurs, moving onto purchasing the Minnesota Vikings in hopes of bringing an NFL team to the Alamo City. He sold the Vikings after seven years and sold the Nuggets after three years.
His philanthropic work includes numerous donations to his alma mater UT and $30 million to M.D. Anderson for the Institute for the Early Detection and Treatment of Cancer.
After all his notable business and philanthropic accomplishments, McCombs would say that the best decision of his life hands down was marrying his wife Charlene in 1950. They would be by each other’s side until her passing in 2019.
Click here to read more on the life and legacy of Red McCombs.
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