Lou Tice, longtime Thoroughbred enthusiast and owner of 2009 Emerald Downs Horse of the Meeting Assessment, died Sunday in Seattle after a short illness. Mr. Tice was 76.

A renowned motivational speaker who worked closely with University of Washington football coach Steve Sarkisian and Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, Tice founded the Pacific Institute, an organization specializing in leadership development.

As a Thoroughbred owner, Tice and wife Diane reached the Northwest pinnacle in 2009 when Assessment rallied for a three-quarter-length victory over the favored Awesome Gem in the 74th running of the Grade 3 Longacres Mile. Assessment won three stakes that year and earned $257,000, the second highest single-season earnings total in track history.

Howard Belvoir, who trained for Tice 15 years including the magical season with Assessment, said the owner would be sorely missed.

“There wasn’t a person who didn’t like him,” Belvoir said. “He was always upbeat and positive, just an outstanding man.”

Tice’s final starter at Emerald Downs was the appropriately named Leadership, a son of Jump Start who finished third in the Gottstein Futurity on Sept. 25, 2011.

A memorial service celebrating the life of Lou Tics is scheduled for 10 a.m. April 13 at St. Edward’s Catholic Church, 4212 S. Mead St., in Seattle.