Texas billionaire Red McCombs dies at 95

San Antonio businessman Red McCombs speaks at Circuit of the Americas in Austin on Oct. 21, 2012. (Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune)

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B.J. “Red” McCombs, a San Antonio businessman who started as a car salesman and grew an empire that spanned media, oil and professional sports, died at his home at age 95.

McCombs, who was born in 1927 in Spur, east of Lubbock, at one point owned 50 car dealerships under the name Red McCombs Automotive Group. He founded Clear Channel Communications with Lowry Mays in 1972, and brought the Spurs to San Antonio in 1973.

McCombs owned the Spurs professional basketball team two separate times and also previously owned the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings and the NBA’s Denver Nuggets. Clear Channel Communications is now known as iHeartMedia and is still headquartered in San Antonio.

McCombs was also known for his philanthropy. The University of Texas at Austin named its business school after him following a $50 million gift in 2000. The north end zone at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium and the school’s softball stadium are also named after McCombs. In 2005, McCombs and his foundation gave MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston $30 million. He also contributed to The Texas Tribune.

“From the business school that bears his name, to our athletics and student success programs, his entrepreneurial spirit, drive to win and commitment to excellence are reflected across the Forty Acres,” UT president Jay Hartzell said in a statement.

McCombs was a donor to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, during his 2016 presidential campaign, and after Cruz dropped out, he donated to Donald Trump. He was also formerly the chair of the board of Constellis, the holding group of the private military company formerly known as Blackwater.

“Red was a visionary entrepreneur who touched many lives and impacted our community in immeasurable ways,” the McCombs family said in a statement. “But to us he was always, first and foremost, ‘Dad’ or ‘Poppop.’ We mourn the loss of a Texas icon.”

Disclosure: MD Anderson Cancer Center and University of Texas at Austin have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.