OT: Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. has passed

Submitted by loyalblue15 on

Original founder and longtime owner of the Buffalo Bills, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. has passed away at 95 years old. 

Wilson, who resided in Grosse Pointe, has ties to the University of Michigan and was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009. 

R.I.P. Mr Wilson. 

Don

March 25th, 2014 at 3:32 PM ^

that two extremely wealthy longtime owners of NFL franchises would both be residents of Grosse Pointe and both die within a month of each other?

ShadowStorm33

March 26th, 2014 at 3:44 PM ^

Crazy things like that have happened before, e.g. two signers of the Declaration of Independence, former presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, died on the 50th anniversary of its ratification, on July 4, 1826...

74polSKA

March 25th, 2014 at 3:48 PM ^

My dad is from Buffalo and the Bills' AFC dominance was during HS for me (unfortunately, we can haz all the SB losses!). Mr. Wilson became a punchline in his later years, but he seemed to really care about the city, team, and fans. Prayers go out to his family.

MGoUberBlue

March 25th, 2014 at 4:07 PM ^

U of M Law graduate, took over his father's insurance business in Detroit, then expanded into a number of other profitable businesses, including a minority interest in the Lions.

One of the original founders of the American Football League, lent $400,000 to keep the Raiders afloat in the early days in return for a 25% interest,

This was one sharp guy.

I doubt that any of those other businesses had the capital appreciation that he enjoyed from the Bills.

LSAClassOf2000

March 25th, 2014 at 5:08 PM ^

Not only was he instrumental in the foundation of the AFL, but he also piloted things like gate and revenue sharing in the league so it could become stable. In the beginning years, he was known to lend some of the troubled AFL franchises money and he  is probably the reason the AFL did not fold despite having relatively few owners that were on sound footing. He made the "small market" team work in football really. 

His dedication to the sport will not be forgotten. RIP Ralph Wilson.

French West Indian

March 25th, 2014 at 5:17 PM ^

...in Grosse Pointe Shores, not Grosse Pointe. 

It always made me a bit sad that Buffalo didn't get a win in those 4 trips to the Super Bowl.  Being that close and coming up short just doesn't really seem fair.

Anyhow, RIP Mr. Wilson.

Don

March 25th, 2014 at 11:43 PM ^

so I know that while there are indeed five separate municipalities with the name Grosse Pointe—Park, Shores, Farms, Woods, and Grosse Pointe itself (sometimes referreed to as Grosse Pointe City)—collectively they're all known as Grosse Pointe. Only snobs in the Shores would take pains to point out the difference between the Shores and the adjacent Pointes.

XM - Mt 1822

March 25th, 2014 at 9:19 PM ^

long time friends to die in as many weeks.  ralph's nick name was 'hack', and was, like WCF, one of my dad's friends for decades and a very kind and gracious man from an era that is quickly passing before our eyes.  if my father was still alive he would be very saddened with these two gentlemen leaving us like this.  there were alot of fun stories about these gentlemen in their younger days.  may the Lord bless and comfort the Wilson family. 

Glen Masons Hot Wife

March 25th, 2014 at 11:26 PM ^

I knew Ralph for a time.  He was a good dude.  Sharp, pragmatic, with a dry wit is how I remember him.  The guy was still running around, playing tennis well into his eighties.

He will be missed.  The city of Buffalo was incredibly lucky to have him.

R.I.P. Ralph.

StateStreetApostle

March 26th, 2014 at 6:10 AM ^

Jerry Green wrote that Ralph had Lions season tickets in the 50s until giving them up in a divorce settlement.

...

Hell of a way to get even with your former spouse.

But thanks, Mr. Wilson, for giving us such an awesome four years there.