With the loss of legendary owner Ralph C. Wilson, Jr., the ownership of the Buffalo Bills begins a period of transition. The Bills organization announced that Mary Wilson, wife of the franchise’s late founder and sole owner, is now the controlling owner.
Wilson founded the Bills in 1959 for the start of the league. The Bills moved to the NFL when the two leagues merged in 1970. Wilson was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009. The Bills were AFL Champions in 1964 and 1965, and they won the AFC Championship four years straight from 1990 to 1993 under Wilson – but never a Super Bowl.
He was the longest tenured NFL owner. The Bills’ stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., is named after Wilson.
Mary Wilson released this statement.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank Bills fans and people everywhere for their tremendous outpouring of love for Ralph. Their heartfelt condolences and warm wishes have truly been a comfort for me, Ralph’s daughters Christy and Dee Dee, Mary Owen and the entire Wilson family during this difficult time.”
“Ralph loved his life and he had a great full life that touched so many people in a variety of ways. He loved his family and his many friends. He loved his Buffalo Bills and he loved the fans. Before he passed, he told me that he wanted people to celebrate his life after he was gone. He wasn’t big on tears. And so that’s why we are referring to events such as the one today as “celebrating” the life of Ralph Wilson.”
“This man accomplished so many things during his time and most of them have been well documented in the past couple of weeks. But the one thing that everyone has mentioned in their kind words was his sense of humor and that certainly was one of his most endearing qualities. Ralph most likely would have offered a funny quip about today’s event. But at the same time, he would have been profoundly touched by the fans outpouring of emotion.”
