Tom Hicks, a longtime supporter of St. Mark’s and the namesake of Hicks Gymnasium, died on Saturday, Dec. 6, at the age of 79. He is survived by his wife Cinda Cree Hicks and his six children.
A former investor in private equity, Hicks served on the Board of Trustees for St. Mark’s, taking a specific interest in Lions’ athletics. Hicks Gym first opened in 2000 and was rebuilt as part of the Zierk Athletic Center which opened in 2024 after the gym was destroyed by the tornado of 2019.
Hicks also owned several professional sports teams in the area. He bought the Dallas Stars hockey team in 1995, and under his ownership the team won seven division titles, two Western Conference crowns and the 1999 Stanley Cup championship. Hicks also ran the Texas Rangers, where he personally negotiated the signing of Alex Rodriguez to the largest contract in MLB history at the time. Both teams were sold in 2010.
