Paul Allen, a Washington State Cougars alumnus who is best known as the billionaire co-founder of Microsoft and owner of the Seattle Seahawks and Portland TrailBlazers, died today of complications from cancer. He was 65.
Allen had fought cancer once before, but announced just two weeks ago that the cancer had returned. He expressed optimism on Twitter, but things obviously took a turn for the worse rather quickly.
While most people will remember him for Microsoft or his ownership of professional sports franchises — including saving the Seahawks from being moved to Los Angeles by previous owner Ken Behring — Allen was a well-known philanthropist, and that extended to his alma mater.