NEWS
Pennsylvania owner, breeder Dixon dies of cancer
Posted: Wednesday, August 02, 2006
F. Eugene Dixon Jr., an owner and breeder and a member of the Jockey Club, died Wednesday of cancer at Abingdon Memorial Hospital, in Abingdon, Pennsylvania. He was 84.
Dixon recently stepped down as chairman of the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission, a post he also held from 1986-'97.
Dixon was an avid sportsman, a former majority owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and minority shareholder in the Philadelphia Flyers. A descendant of the Widener family, which has a long history in American racing and breeding, he and his wife, Edith, own the family's historic Erdenheim Farm in Pennsylvania.
A philanthropist, Dixon gave generously to the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center, where the facility's George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals is named for his uncle.
Dixon also led efforts to legalize off-track betting in Pennsylvania, and worked with Governor Ed Rendell on legislation that legalized slot machines at racetracks in the state.
At the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale, Dixon paid $950,000 for two-time Grade 3 winner Solvig, who has since produced the first Pennsylvania-bred son of dual classic winner Smarty Jones, who also was bred in Pennsylvania.
"He wanted to support the home team," Rick Abbott, whose Charlton Bloodstock Services bought the nine-year old Caerleon mare on Dixon's behalf, said at the time.
Aside from his involvement in sports, Dixon was a former educator whose interests extended to medical and civic organizations to which he donated and raised money. He served from 1983-2000 as chairman of the Pennsylvania university system, which contains 14 state universities.
The family will conduct a private internment, and memorial services will be held later in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania, and Palm Beach, Florida. The family requests any memorial contributions be made to Abingdon Memorial Hospital; Maine Coast Memorial Hospital, Ellsworth, Maine; or Society of the Four Arts, Palm Beach, Florida.--ML
