Joe Straus, Sr.​

Joe R. Straus, Sr. was a champion athlete in his native San Antonio, an original investor in the San Antonio Spurs and a pioneer in Texas horse racing. Straus invested time and money as a lifelong advocate for sports in his community. Straus was one of the original investors responsible for bringing the Spurs basketball team to San Antonio. His commitment continued while he served as Chairman of the Board for the Spurs and personally funded operations to help put together the franchise in San Antonio. ​

Dan Cook once called Joe Straus “one of the toughest little fighters and best all-around athletes ever raised in this area.” As a young man, Straus was a two-sport standout athlete at San Antonio Main Avenue High School (which became Fox Technical High School in 1932). He was Captain of both the football and baseball teams at the University of Pennsylvania and was named an All-American Football Running Back in 1921. He was awarded All-Conference honors in baseball and played Semi-Professional Baseball in San Antonio until his early 40’s.​

Straus was a successful thoroughbred owner who owned several horses that competed in countless Triple Crown races. At one time he owned at least a share in 250 racehorses. His most famous horse, No Le Hace, won the Arkansas and Louisiana Derbies and placed second in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in 1972. Many other champion horses came from his stables as well. In 2001, he was inducted into the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame. Straus’ lobbying and financial contributions were a driving force in the effort to get pari-mutual betting returned to Texas after his death in 1984. He was also an avid bowler, sponsoring the State Champion Women’s bowling team for many years. He was also the co-owner of Main Bowling Center. He is a member of the San Antonio Bowling Hall of Fame.​