Today marks the 30th anniversary of Jerry Jones’ purchase of the Dallas Cowboys football franchise.
The Arkansas native purchased the Cowboys on February 25, 1989 for $140 million, according to Forbes, and has forged it into the world’s most valuable sports team, now worth $5 billion.
Although he was born in Los Angeles, he was raised in North Little Rock, attending North Little Rock High School and graduating from the University of Arkansas. Famously, he was part of the 1964 National Championship football team, where he was teammates with future Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson.
When he purchased the Cowboys, Jones was 46 years old and owned a gas and oil exploration company based in Arkansas.
Jones immediately courted controversy by firing Tom Landry, the only coach the Cowboys had ever had at that point. During the 1990s, the Cowboys won three Super Bowls in 1992, 1993 and 1995.
Not only is Jones the owner of the Cowboys, he is also the general manager.
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