Sad news today for the Buffalo Bills as owner and team founder Ralph Wilson passed away at age 95. Wilson was a trail blazer for American football as one of the original eight owners in the AFL.
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Wilson founded the Buffalo Bills and the AFL in 1959 as a member of the “Foolish Club”, a group of wealthy men who looked to bring more teams to the NFL in 1959, but decided to form their own league when denied entrance to the league. Wilson among others such as Bud Adams Jr. (Titans) and Lamarr Hunt (Chiefs) started their business venture later known as the AFL.
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Wilson helped keep the AFL afloat by being one of the three owners that were finically stable enough to lend out money. He helped the league gain television and gate revenue sharing and led the charge for all football games to be postponed after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
After the merger of the AFL and NFL, Wilson stayed with the Bills and was one of only two owners to be opposed to collective bargaining. Wilson was the Bills acting President up until 2001 when he retired from the position only to take back the position in 2006. Wilson was the Bills President until 2013 when he relinquished the day to day operations to current President Russ Brandon.
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Wilson is a member of the 2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame class and was enshrined with Bills great Bruce Smith. The Bills appeared in four straight Super Bowls with Wilson at the helm and two AFL Championships, winning one. The Bills stadium is named in Wilson’s name as well as a Pro Football Research and Preservation Center in Canton, Ohio. Wilson is survived his wife Mary and his three daughter, two of whom are involved in team business. Wilson was a true trailblazer for today’s NFL and he will be missed.
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