The most well-known college football booster passed away on Wednesday when T. Boone Pickens died at the age of 91. Pickens was legendary for his enormous gifts to Oklahoma State over the years, and his loss will leave Cowboys players and alumni with heavy hearts.
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of T. Boone Pickens on September 11, 2019. #RIPBoone https://t.co/w6bt9d22GL pic.twitter.com/PhCvOnOpfs
— T. Boone Pickens (@boonepickens) September 11, 2019
T. Boone Pickens was a notable philanthropist. He was responsible for the largest single donation to an athletic program ever recorded when he gave $165 million to the Oklahoma State athletic department in 2006, and numerous buildings and facilities bear his name on the Stillwater campus. Oklahoma State’s football stadium was named after Pickens in 2009, and he was a fixture at games. AD Mike Holder remembered Pickens for his generosity today in a statement:
“The greatest Cowboy of them all has taken his last ride. It will never be the same again. We could never thank him enough for all that he did for our university. He gave us everything he had — and all that he asked in return was that we play by the rules and dream big. He was living proof that anything is possible if you’re wearing orange. ‘Great ride Cowboy, great ride!'”
Six years ago this week, I tweeted that Boone Pickens was no longer a billionaire. He shot back. Rest In peace to a legend I was honored to have crossed paths with. pic.twitter.com/K3NZnyBHzF
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) September 11, 2019
Pickens was one of the most benevolent billionaires in the world, giving away more than half of his net worth while he was alive. He announced last month that he had given $652 million to Oklahoma State over the years, and his total charitable contributions are reported to have exceeded $1 billion.
Mr. Pickens is a big part of our success and we’re all thankful for the lasting impact he’s had on Oklahoma State. It would have been difficult for us to climb as high as we have without him. He’ll be missed, but his legacy here will live on for a long time to come. pic.twitter.com/1jYVwBcHo0
— Mike Gundy (@CoachGundy) September 11, 2019
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy remembered Pickens fondly earlier this afternoon. The Cowboys had been a dormant program for a long time until first Les Miles and then Gundy took the reins in Stillwater, and Oklahoma State nearly made it to the BCS National Championship under his watch in 2011. Only a double-overtime loss to Iowa State immediately after a tragedy prevented the Cowboys from playing for the title, and Oklahoma State hammered rival Oklahoma 44-10 in Bedlam that year.
H/T ESPN
