The Fraternity is saddened by the passing of Brother Tom Hicks, Texas-Austin ’68, a longtime donor and volunteer, SigEp Citation recipient, and businessman.

As a member of SigEp’s Texas Alpha chapter, Hicks played a major role in raising the chapter’s profile and laying the foundation for its decades-long run as one of the university’s leading fraternities. Revered in his own right, Hicks is also remembered for launching a storied Texas Alpha SigEp legacy that includes younger siblings Steve and Bill, his son Bradley, and three nephews.

His influence is still deeply felt at Texas Alpha, echoing throughout the chapter’s impressive home. In the early 2000s, Hicks led a successful capital campaign that raised nearly $3 million to renovate and expand the chapter facility.

On the national level, Hicks was not only a loyal donor, but also actively involved in the Fraternity as a trustee of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation. Hicks was a Foundation trustee for 10 years, serving for two years as treasurer.

Hicks also touched the lives of young brothers through a scholarship he endowed for undergraduates who struggled academically early on but significantly improved their grades.

An astute businessman, Hicks co-founded two major private equity firms in the 1980s, one of which facilitated the landmark merger of 7Up and Dr. Pepper. He branched out into the sports industry in the ’90s, becoming one of the few people to own teams in the NHL, MLB and Premier League at the same time.

His success in finance and sports brought Hicks numerous awards and honors, including the Henry Cohn Humanitarian Award from the Anti-Defamation League and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Texas Alumni Association. In 2022, he was inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame. He was also named to the University of Texas System Board of Regents, serving from 1994 to 1999.

In recognition of his professional accomplishments, the Fraternity awarded Hicks the SigEp Citation in 1987.

One of the many brothers who knew and loved brother Hicks shared this story of how his early days in the Fraternity later profoundly impacted SigEp:

“Tom was rush captain in 1966 when I joined SigEp. A year later, he was an important factor in Don McCleary joining the Fraternity, making Tom the only person I know of in SigEp to pledge two future Grand Presidents. We didn’t know then that it was meaningful, but it later influenced the course of SigEp due to Don’s pathbreaking leadership in the creation of our balanced man initiative.” — Gary Griffith, Texas-Austin ’70, Past Grand President

His children released a joint statement expressing gratitude for their father:

“Of everything he accomplished in his remarkable life, Tom Hicks’s most cherished title was ‘Dad.’ No matter the trials and tribulations he faced in life, he was constant in his generosity and love for his family. He remains a guiding force for our family, and we are deeply honored to continue expanding his legacy. Although we are devastated by this loss, we are profoundly grateful to have been his children.”