Tom Hicks, the longtime owner of the NHL's Dallas Stars, has died at the age of 79. Hicks oversaw the franchise from 1995 to 2011, including their 1999 Stanley Cup victory. He passed away peacefully on Saturday in Dallas, surrounded by family.
Thomas O. Hicks, a Texas businessman and philanthropist, died on Saturday at age 79 in Dallas. He owned the Dallas Stars from 1995 to 2011, a period marked by significant success in the NHL. Under his ownership, the Stars won the Presidents' Trophy in 1998 and 1999, secured multiple division titles, two Western Conference championships, and the 1999 Stanley Cup by defeating the Buffalo Sabres in six games.
Brett Hull scored the Cup-winning goal for the Stars in 1999, following Hicks' signing of the forward to a $17 million, three-year contract in free agency the previous summer. The franchise also reached the Stanley Cup Final again in 2000, losing to New Jersey in six games. Hicks played a key role in the development of the American Airlines Center, where the Stars moved before the 2001-02 season and still play today, sharing the arena with the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. He also supported grassroots hockey growth through the creation of numerous StarCenter facilities.
The Dallas Stars issued a statement praising Hicks' contributions: "During his ownership of the club from 1995-2011, the team experienced unprecedented success... Our franchise would not be in the position we are today without the ownership of Mr. Hicks. His legacy will be honored by our franchise for decades to come."
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman highlighted Hicks' impact: "Tom Hicks combined his innovative business acumen with his passions for sports and the city of Dallas to transform the Stars into one of the most successful franchises in the NHL and the catalyst for the explosive growth of hockey in Texas."
Hicks is survived by his wife of 35 years, Cinda Cree Hicks, their six children—Thomas Ollis Hicks Jr., Mack Hardin Hicks, John Alexander Hicks, Robert Bradley Hicks, William Cree Hicks, and Catherine Forgrave Hicks—and 11 grandchildren. His children shared: "Of everything he accomplished in his remarkable life, Tom Hicks’s most cherished title was, ‘Dad.’ ... Although we are devastated by this loss, we are profoundly grateful to have been his children."
The Stars franchise went through bankruptcy before being sold to Tom Gaglardi in 2011.
