Stan Sigman, a partner in Ruidoso Downs and a former giant in the wireless communications industry, passed away unexpectedly on December 21 on his family ranch south of Hondo, Texas.

In addition to being a partner in the ownership of Ruidoso Downs and the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale since 2017, Sigman also was a partner in champion and leading sire Kiss My Hocks and in the popular performance horse stallion Bucks Hancock Dude.

After attending high school in Hereford, Texas in 1965, Sigman took a job in the Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. warehouse. He held that job until he graduated from college at West Texas State (now West Texas A&M) and continued his involvement in the communications industry until he retired in 2007. Growing up in the cattle town of Hereford, Sigman was always involved with horses and cattle. After marrying his high school sweetheart Gerry Lynn, the Sigmans continued their involvement with horses both as breeders and trainers.  They raced at tracks in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.

Stan Sigman’s job that started as a telephone company warehouse employee led to leadership positions with SBC Communications. While serving as group President and Chief Operating Officer of SBC Communications, Sigman directed its integration with BellSouth to form Cingular Wireless in 2001. In 2004, he led Cingular’s acquisition of AT&T Wireless, thereby creating the largest cellular wire carrier in the United States. Sigman served as Chief Operating Officer of AT&T Mobility until his retirement in late 2007.

While with AT&T mobility, Sigman was contacted by his friend Steve Jobs of Apple and that relationship evolved into the development of the iPhone.

During his long business career, the Sigman family had to put their horse business on the back burner as they were stationed in such places as Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri and Mexico. After Stan’s retirement, they began purchasing property in the ranch country west of San Antonio. The Sigmans soon began purchasing horses and developing a program of breeding and raising American Quarter Horses for roping, barrel racing, and racing.

Involved in several different philanthropic endeavors over the years, the one program that Stan cherished the most was a program for wounded members of the armed services and their families and survivors. The Sigman family hosts hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities on their ranch for those individuals.

From his childhood, Stan had fond memories of family trips to Ruidoso Downs. In 2012, the Sigman family purchased a home in Alto, New Mexico and then purchased a membership in the Ruidoso Jockey Club.  When R.D. Hubbard decided to sell Ruidoso Downs and the sale company in 2016, Stan became partners with John Andreini, Johnny Trotter, and Chicho Flores in creating All American Ruidoso Downs (AARD).

Stan led the new entity that became the track’s owner in the fall of 2017 and led the hiring of Jeff True as the track’s President and General Manager. The next year, Andreini passed away leaving AARD with just Sigman, Trotter, and Flores.

In the first three years under AARD, the track made many strides.  The one that pleased Stan and Gerry Lynn the most was the creation of the new chapel and a Prayer Garden on the track’s backside.

“Everything about owning a racetrack is not fun or easy,” Sigman said more than once during the past few years.  “But when I get down about something in racing that might not be good, I think about the church there on the backside. That always picks me up and assures us that God has placed us where he needs us.”

Stan is survived by his loving wife Gerry Lynn, his son Spicer, daughters Lourdes Funes and Jodi Adams plus grandchildren Spicer Gripp, Piper, Isaac, Caleb, Rilynn and Stephan.

Memorials in honor of the life of Stan Sigman can be directed to the Ruidoso Jockey Club Foundation.