Charlie Thomas, who went from parts runner in Knoxville to owner of NBA's Rockets, dies at 89

Charlie Thomas, whose boyhood days were spent in South Knoxville before he became owner of the NBA's Houston Rockets, died Friday of complications from COVID-19. He was 89.

In 1982, Thomas bought the Rockets for $11 million. He sold the team in 1993 for $85 million.

“Charlie was a great friend, business partner, and true Texan who loved his Rockets,” Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta said in a statement posted on the team's Twitter account. “He helped set the foundation of our franchise that brought two championships to the City of Houston.”

Thomas graduated Knoxville High in 1950. He took a job at Public Oldsmobile in Knoxville as a parts runner to begin a long and successful career in the automobile business.

After two years in the U.S. Army he moved to Texas in 1957. He owned a car dealership group and operated more than 40 dealerships across the country.

On the advice of another major player in Texas auto dealerships, billionaire Red McCombs, he purchased the Rockets. McCombs had put Thomas in command of his first car dealership.

Thomas told the News Sentinel in 1993 he "didn't know a shooting guard from a small forward. I was really dumb about basketball.

"But Red McCombs told me salary caps were about to be agreed on by the owners and players association, and that would really offer teams some stability. Many clubs were on the verge of bankruptcy because there were no salary caps. The salary caps helped stabilize the league and made it more competitive."

The Rockets had the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft for two consecutive years and selected 7-foot-4 Ralph Sampson in 1983, followed by 7-foot Hakeem Olajuwan. They would become the "Twin Towers."

The two future members of Pro Basketball Hall of Fame led the Rockets to the NBA Finals in 1986 but were defeated by the the Boston Celtics. 

Thomas credited his experience in automobile sales for his business successes.

"A car salesman has to be a tough son-of-a-gun," Thomas said. "He has to have a lot of confidence in himself because he works on commission - no guaranteed income. That'll test your character."

Thomas was married to his childhood sweetheart Kittsie Jones Thomas for 61 years. She died in 2013. He is survived by  three children, Robin, Tracie and Kelly. 

Funeral arrangements are pending.