COLUMBUS, Ga., April 26 (UPI) -- Columbus Blue Jackets majority owner John McConnell has died at the age of 84 following a lengthy bout with cancer.
His death occurred Friday morning.
McConnell, who founded Worthington Industries, the $3 billion-a-year steel processing company, headed a group of investors who brought the NHL to Columbus, Ohio, in 2000.
"Words simply cannot express the deep sadness felt by the Columbus Blue Jackets organization," the team said in a statement on its Web site. "The National Hockey League would not be in Columbus if it weren't for Mr. Mac's love for this community and his deep commitment to it. He has always been, and will continue to be, the foundation on which our organization is built and we will work every day to practice the values by which he lived his life."
McConnell also was an early investor in the Columbus Crew's Major League Soccer franchise and was a former minority owner of major league baseball's Pittsburgh Pirates.
