NORTH East entrepreneur and former chairman of Sunderland Football Club Sir Tom Cowie has died aged 89.
It was confirmed yesterday that the former transport boss had passed away at his home in County Durham on Wednesday.
Sir Tom, who was knighted in 1992, became involved in his father’s motorcycle business soon after leaving Bede School in Sunderland, the city he loved.
He served in the RAF during the Second World War and returned to help run the family business which expanded to be a major car dealer with showrooms across the UK.
Sir Tom’s name became synonymous with public transport when Cowie Ltd bought into the bus industry.
The firm became Arriva which was eventually bought by German giant Deutsche Bahn for £1.585 billion in 2010.
A keen sports fan, Sir Tom became chairman at Roker Park in 1980 and brought Laurie McMenemy to the club. He had six years at the helm before he was succeeded by Bob Murray.
The club reached the League Cup final at Wembley in 1985 during Sir Tom’s tenure.
Tributes poured in for the philanthropic businessman yesterday. Arriva’s chief executive David Martin said: “We are extremely saddened by the news that Arriva’s founder, Sir Tom Cowie, has passed away.
“Sir Tom was a dedicated and talented businessman whose determination and vision built his small family motorcycle business, T Cowie Ltd, into a successful national motor retailing chain and laid the foundations for Arriva’s international business today.
“Following Sir Tom’s retirement from the group in 1993, he became our honorary president.
