Thomas O. Hicks, the former owner of the Dallas Stars, died on Saturday at the age of 79.
Hicks owned the franchise from 1995 to 2011. Under his leadership, the Stars won the Presidents’ Trophy in 1998 and 1999 and the Stanley Cup in 1999 with a six-game victory over the Buffalo Sabers in the Stanley Cup Final.
“During his time as owner of the club from 1995 to 2011, the team experienced unprecedented success, winning multiple division titles, two Presidents’ Trophies and the 1999 Stanley Cup,” the franchise said in a statement. “He also played an important role in the development and planning of the American Airlines Center, as well as the growth of the sport of hockey at the grassroots level through the creation of numerous StarCenter facilities. Without Mr. Hicks as owner, our franchise would not be where it is today. His legacy will be honored by our franchise for decades to come.”
Hicks owned other professional sports clubs, including Liverpool FC of the Premier League and the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB).
“Tom Hicks combined his innovative business acumen with his passion for the game and the city of Dallas, building the Stars into one of the most successful franchises in the NHL and the catalyst for the explosive growth of hockey in Texas,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. “In the 1995-96 season, his second season as owner, the Stars embarked on a remarkable run in which they won seven of the next nine division titles, two Western Conference Championships and the 1999 Stanley Cup. Hicks was instrumental in the planning and development of the American Airlines Center. His philanthropic activities focused on promoting education and helping the homeless in the Dallas area. The National Hockey League mourns his passing and extends condolences to his wife Cinda, their six children and eleven “Our sincere condolences to the grandchildren and the entire Hicks family.”
