Joy McCann Culverhouse, Widow Of Buccaneers Founder, Dies At 96

TAMPA, FL — The widow of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers very first owner has died at the age of 96.

Joy McCann Culverhouse reportedly died at her Hyde Park home Tuesday from pneumonia, several media outlets have reported.

McCann Culverhouse’s husband, Hugh, owned the Buccaneers from the time they were granted a National Football League franchise in 1974 until his death. The team was sold to Malcolm Glazer in 1995, following Hugh Culverhouse’s death in 1994. The Glazier family retains ownership of the team today.

McCann Culverhouse was an avid amateur golfer who won a number of titles, including two Alabama State Golf Championships in the 1941, according to The Tampa Tribune. The University of Alabama, where McCann Culverhouse attended school, has a scholarship named in her honor. The initial scholarship was funded in 2015 by a $250,000 gift made in McCann Culverhouse’s name, Golf Digest reported.

“Our family is devastated at the loss of our mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and great aunt,” Gay Culverhouse, Joy’s daughter, was quoted by the Tribune as saying. “Her competitive spirit lives on as we meet the challenges life gives us.”

Services for McCann Culverhouse have yet to be announced.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization issued the following statement on McCann Culverhouse's passing:

“We are saddened to hear of the passing of Mrs. Joy Culverhouse. The Culverhouse family will always hold a special place in Tampa’s rich sports history as the first major professional sports owners in our community. We appreciate all that Joy and her husband, Hugh, did for the Tampa Bay area and we offer our condolences to the family.”

To read more about McCann Culverhouse, read The Tampa Tribune’s story.

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