Wilson, like the late Kansas City Chiefs Owner Lamar Hunt, and the late Oakland Raiders Owner Al Davis, was a man who took chances. It was his business wheeling and dealing that gave rise to Ralph Wilson Industries, and when he learned that Lamar Hunt was going to enter the upstart American Football League and specifically to challenge the NFL, he joined in and after fits and starts, established the Buffalo Bills of Buffalo, New York.
“Ralph Wilson was a driving force in developing pro football into America’s most popular sport,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell observed. “He loved the game and took a chance on a start-up league in 1960 as a founding owner of the American Football League. He brought his beloved Bills to western New York and his commitment to the team’s role in the community set a standard for the NFL. As a trusted advisor to his fellow league owners and the commissioner, Ralph always brought a principled and common-sense approach to issues. His lifelong loyalty to the game was instrumental in his richly deserved induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. We are grateful for his many contributions to the NFL and offer our heartfelt sympathy to the Wilson family.”
Wilson was the product of a can-do generation that fought the war and put a man on the Moon. One we may never see again.
Stay tuned.
Zennie Abraham | Zennie Abraham or “Zennie62” is the founder of Zennie62Media which consists of zennie62blog.com and a multimedia blog news aggregator and video network, and 78-blog network, with social media and content development services and consulting. Zennie is a pioneer video blogger, YouTube Partner, social media practitioner, game developer, and pundit. Note: news aggregator content does not reflect the personal views of Mr. Abraham.