Remembering Tom Hicks: A passionate sports owner who changed the Stars & Rangers
Before the internet, Tom Hicks had copies of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Dallas Morning News delivered daily to his home — in La Jolla, California. Just to read the sports sections.
The man who once owned both the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers loved owning professional sports franchises, and gaining influence for his alma mater’s football team, the University of Texas.
Hicks died on Saturday at the age of 79 at his home in Dallas. He is survived by his wife Cinda and six children.
Because his professional finances dramatically changed near the end of the first decade of this century, Hicks vacated the North Texas sports scene about 15 years ago, but he permanently altered the trajectory of an entire region. He also helped to reset the standards for large contracts in Major League Baseball.
His impact on North Texas didn’t quite reach Jerry Jones levels, but Tom Hicks should be a part of this conversation. Hicks was an “involved owner,” who, unlike Jerry, never would have given himself the role of GM.
From the look of downtown Dallas, to the growth of regional sports networks, Hicks’ ownership brought more visibility and prosperity than any previous tenure in the respective histories of the Rangers and Stars.
He was accessible, approachable, decent, kind, and a generous man who loved talking sports. On a personal level, he was great to me, and I am so sad that I had not talked to him in nearly 20 years.
Tom Hicks’ legacy with the Rangers and Stars
A native of Port Arthur, Hicks earned degrees from Texas and USC. He also served in the Army reserves. He started his own investment firm before entering the world of real estate and pro sports.
Hicks owned the Stars from 1995 to 2011, and the Rangers from June 1998 to August 2010. He was instrumental in the construction of the American Airlines Center, and the development of its surrounding area. During his run with the Rangers, the team moved its spring training headquarters from Florida to Surprise, Arizona.
He also owned the Mesquite Rodeo, and Liverpool F.C. of the English Premier League.
During his time as the owner of the Stars, they won their first Stanley Cup, in 1999, and reached the Cup Final again in 2000; after some serious missteps, he put the Rangers on track to come painfully close to winning their first World Series; as a member of the board of regents at Texas, UT won a national title in football, in 2005, and he personally tried to recruit Nick Saban to replace Mack Brown as head coach.
At the time Hicks bought the Rangers from the ownership group led by future President George W. Bush, the team was entering the best run it had since it moved to Arlington from Washington, D.C., in 1972. The Rangers won American League West titles in 1996, ‘98 and ‘99. They lost all their of their playoff series against the New York Yankees.
Meanwhile, the Stars were a tad closer. It was Hicks who pushed the Stars to sign free agent forward Brett Hull in 1998. The next year, Hull scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal.
As much as that signing impacted the Stars, it was Hicks’ next splash in sports free agency that had a global impact.
Hicks desperately wanted to win a World Series. He enjoyed the Stars’ Stanley Cup fun tremendously, and since baseball was the sport he was more familiar with, he was driven to win a World Series.
In the winter of 2000, Hicks outbid every other suitor to sign the most attractive free agent in the history of baseball, Seattle Mariners shortstop Alex Rodriguez. Hicks gave A-Rod a record 10-year, $252 million contract.
Hicks’ vision was that with A-Rod, and other pricey free agents, the Rangers would win, fill the Ballpark in Arlington, reach the playoffs, and make the money back. None of it happened.
The Rangers lost, the contract was too much, and Hicks traded A-Rod to the Yankees after only three seasons.
In 2005, Hicks made the decision that changed the Rangers. He was done trying to win through free agency, and wanted to build through the draft and farm system in the hope of sustained success.
After the ‘05 season, he hired Jon Daniels, who at the time was the youngest GM in MLB history. In February of ‘08, Hicks convinced Nolan Ryan to be the president of the franchise, which included final authority on baseball decisions.
With Ryan, Daniels and manager Ron Washington, the Rangers slowly built a team that reached the World Series in 2010 and 2011.
Hicks left the sports scene quietly
By the time Rangers were one of the best teams in baseball, however, Hicks’ business finances were in bad shape. In May 2010, Hicks Sports Group filed for bankruptcy, and he was forced to sell the Rangers, Stars and Liverpool F.C.
“Our franchise would not be in the position we are today without the ownership of Mr. Hicks,” the Stars said in a statement. “His legacy will be honored by our franchise for decades to come.”
After the sales, he essentially withdrew from public life but retained his residence in Dallas.
It was a sad ending to a prolonged tenure as a sports owner whose time changed not only two respective franchises but an entire region.
This story was originally published December 8, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
