Original Atlanta Hawks team owner Tom Cousins dies at the age of 93
Cousins was the original owner of the Atlanta Falcons, playing a pivotal role in bringing the franchise to Georgia.
The team announced his passing in a heartfelt statement, hailing Cousins for his transformative impact on the city's sporting community.
'The Atlanta Hawks extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Tom Cousins, a visionary builder of communities, unmatched philanthropist, and a former Hawks owner who had an enduring impact on the city's sports landscape and the geographic footprint that now makes up our thriving Downtown Atlanta region,' the Hawks said.
'Developed by Cousins, the original home of the Hawks – the Omni Coliseum – shaped fans, memories and downtown for a quarter of a century.'
Cousins, along with former Georgia Governor Carl Sanders, purchased the team in 1968, relocating the franchise to Atlanta from St. Louis.
The move helped cement Atlanta as a major metropolitan sports hub of the southeast of the United States.
'We are grateful for his legacy and the countless lives he impacted,' the Hawks' statement added.
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