Bobcats Co-Owner Skipper Beck Has Died In Plane Crash

William ‘Skipper’ Beck, 49,  a businessman who helped bring an expansion team to Charlotte and owned a minority share in the Bobcats, died in a plane crash on Friday morning.

Skipper was flying solo in a single-engine plane from New Jersey to South Carolina when the aircraft went down.

Robert Johnson, Bobcats majority owner said in a statement:

“Skipper loved basketball and was instrumental in bringing the Bobcats to Charlotte, and as an owner, he was without question the Bobcats greatest fan.  We will miss him at courtside.”

As fellow co-owner of the Bobcats, Beck considered Hall of Fame inductee Michael Jordan a friend.  In 2007, Beck played at the Wachovia pro-am with Jordan, Tiger Woods and himself.

Our hearts are with his friends and family during this difficult time.