An American businessman who founded the Red McCombs Automotive Group in San Antonio, Texas, and a co-founder of Clear Channel Communications, Billy Joe McCombs mostly known as “Red McCombs” died at his home in San Antonio on February 19, 2023, at age 95. No cause of death was given.
Born in West Texas, United States, he gained the nickname “Red” through his hair color. McCombs served as chairman of the trustees at Southwestern University and chairman of the University of Texas’s M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
McCombs served as a member of the Alamo Endowment Board, which raises funds for the preservation and management of the Alamo Mission in downtown San Antonio.
He was a one-time owner of many businesses including the San Antonio Spurs, San Antonio Force, Denver Nuggets, the Minnesota Vikings, and the namesake of the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin.
The San Antonio Express-News reported in 2012 that McCombs’ net worth at $1.4 billion. He was ranked the 913th richest man in the world.
McCombs was married to Charline Hamblin from 1950 until her death on December 12, 2019.