William R. Hawn

Who was William R. Hawn?

William Russell "Fritz" Hawn was an American businessman and philanthropist who bred and raced Thoroughbred horses, served for twenty years as president of Del Mar Racetrack, owned by lifelong friend Clint Murchinson with whom he became a founding partner in the Dallas Cowboys franchise of the National Football League. He sold his interest in the Dallas Cowboys in 1984.

A native of Athens, Texas, while a student at Southern Methodist University, William Hawn was part of the football team from 1930 through 1932. He served with the United States military during World War II.

In 1962, William Hawn and his wife Mildred established The Hawn Foundation, Inc. with a mandate to provide financial assistance to charitable, educational, scientific and literary institutions.