His business profile expanded to include the oil, real estate, radio and television industries among others. He moved to San Antonio in 1957 and eventually started Red McCombs Automotive Group, which once included 55 car dealerships, according to Forbes. McCombs, born on October 19, 1928, in Spur, Texas, was a well-known businessman throughout the state of Texas. Tice remained Minnesota’s coach through 2005, the year McCombs sold the team while frustrated over the inability to build a new stadium. In 2001, McCombs fired coach Dennis Green and replaced him with Mike Tice, first as an interim coach and then as the permanent replacement. The Vikings reached the NFC Championship Game twice in McCombs’ first three years as owner. The Texas native bought the Minnesota Vikings in 1998 for $250 million. McCombs later sold the Spurs in 1993, but he wasn’t done with professional sports. However, he sold the Nuggets to Houston businessman Sidney Shlenker in 1985 and returned to the Spurs as a major investor that year. During his time as Denver’s owner, the billionaire sold his stake in the Spurs. McCombs expanded his NBA reach by buying the financially-strapped Denver Nuggets in 1982. Two years later, McCombs pushed for the to Spurs join the NBA in the 1976 NBA-ABA merger. McCombs, who first built his business empire as a car salesman, acquired George “Iceman” Gervin from the ABA’s Virginia Squires the following year, giving the Spurs their first star. After the Spurs’ first season, the businessmen bought the team outright and made it an integral part of the city. The group then moved the team to San Antonio and renamed them the Spurs. McCombs got his start in the sports world in 1973 when he and a group of businessmen leased the ABA’s Dallas Chaparrals ahead of the 1973-1974 season. The University of Texas System February 20, 2023 They made us all better, and we will work every day to make Red and Charline proud of what they saw in each of us. Today we mourn the loss of Red McCombs and reflect on the generosity that he and Charline bestowed on UT institutions and countless nonprofit organizations. The #Vikings are saddened by the passing of former team owner Red McCombs. While Red had a clear passion for sports, it was evident what he loved the most were his children and grandchildren.” “Red embodied his famous ‘Purple Pride’ phrase and remained a staunch Vikings fan after passing the torch to the Wilf family in 2005. “The Minnesota Vikings are saddened by the passing of former team owner Red McCombs,” the organization said in a statement. The Minnesota Vikings, one of the teams McCombs previously owned, and the University of Texas, his alma mater, confirmed his death. San Antonio billionaire Billy Joe “Red” McCombs, who brought the Spurs to San Antonio and owned other sports franchises, has died at 95.
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