B.J. “Red” McCombs, a millionaire from San Antonio who started out as a car salesman before creating an empire in the media, oil, and professional sports, passed suddenly at home at the age of 95.
When did Red McCombs own the Spurs?
McCombs, who was born in Spur, Texas in 1927 and resides east of Lubbock, controlled 50 automobile dealerships as part of the Red McCombs Automotive Group. In 1972, he and Lowry Mays founded Clear Channel Communications, and in 1973, they brought the Spurs to San Antonio.
McCombs had held ownership of the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings, and two different Spurs basketball teams. The headquarters of iHeartMedia, originally Clear Channel Communications, are still in San Antonio.
McCombs was renowned for his charity as well. After a $50 million contribution to the university in 2000, the business school there was dedicated in his honour.
The school’s softball stadium and the Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium’s north end zone are both named for McCombs. McCombs and his charity donated $30 million to the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston in 2005. He also provided content for The Texas Tribune.
