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All: The new Billszone site with the updated software is scheduled to be turned on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. The company that built it, Dynascale, estimates a FOUR HOUR shut down, from 8pm Pacific, (5pm Eastern) while they get it up and running. Nobody will be able to post in any forum until they are done. Afterwards, you may need to do a web search for the site, as old links will not work, because the site is getting a new IP address. Please be patient. If there are bugs, we will tackle them one at a time. Remember the goal is to be up and running with no glitches by camp. Doing this now assures us of that, because it gives us all summer to get our ducks in a row. Thank you!
There is work to be done and things to be learned. We are going to try to get the old look back - or something close to it. We also know there are bugs. A thread will be started to report bugs and then we can pass those onto the host.
Thank you for all the patience and support with this - hopefully this will greatly reduce the crashes and other site issues we have had lately.
Please use this thread to report any issues you come across
http://www.billszone.com/fanzone/forum/feedback-forums/billszone-q-a/6521455-upgrade-report-bugs-here
Wilson, an insurance and trucking magnate from Detroit, was a fan of the Detroit Lions. Wilson and his father regularly attended Lions games until Ralph went away in 1941, to join the Navy during World War II. In 1948, Wilson and his father bought a 4% share in the Lions, to keep the team locally owned. This fueled Wilson's desire to own his own team. In August of 1959 while in Saratoga for the start of the racing season, Wilson read in the New York Times read of a young oil tycoon named Lamar Hunt, who was starting a new football league. Wilson learned that they were interested in placing a team in Miami. "I had a winter home in Miami," said Wilson. "I wasn't a total stranger down there. I had been going down there since I was a youngster." To his surprise, Wilson received fierce opposition in trying to work out a lease arrangement with the Orange Bowl, not only from political leaders but from the University of Miami as well. "Well if you couldn't get the Orange Bowl, you had no place to play in Miami in those days," Wilson said. "So I forgot about the whole thing." A few days later, Hunt called Wilson and told him that he had seven teams lined up and needed an eighth, to balance out the schedule. Hunt told Wilson that there were 5 cities interested; Louisville, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Atlanta and Buffalo and could have his choice of anyone. Wilson knew nothing of either of the cities. Wilson asked Ed Hayes, sports editor of the Detroit Times and Nick Kerbawy, an executive with the Lions, which of the cities they would choose. They both answered, Buffalo.
Born in Columbus, Ohio, Ralph Wilson lived in Detroit, Michigan as a child. Later, he would graduate from the University of Virginia. Wilson enlisted in the Navy during World War II, quickly earning his commission and serving in both the Atlantic and Pacific theatres.
After the war, Wilson joined his father's insurance business. Branching out over the years, Wilson is now Chairman of Ralph C. Wilson Industries, Inc. in Detroit, which includes manufacturing, television and radio stations, construction, insurance and contract drilling operations.
Always an avid fan of football, Wilson first purchased a minority share in the National Football League's Detroit Lions. Later he joined Lamar Hunt and the rest of "The Foolish Club" in what was to be the other league, the American Football League.
Chicago's Ashland Manufacturing Company is founded to develop innovative ways of using the slaughterhouse by-products of the meat packing firm Schwarzchild and Sulzberger.
1914
Ashland's original product line include surgical sutures, inexpensive tennis racquets, tennis racquet string and two models of baseball shoes. The company is shaped by its first general manager, E.C. Seaton, who was one of the early experts of the sporting goods industry. After Thomas E. Wilson is named president, the young company breaks from its parent to focus on sports oriented products. The goal is to grow through innovation and quality, and to promote athletics and sports.
1915
Football jerseys, basketballs and indoor baseballs are added to the line, and the Star tennis racquet is advertised at $.75.
1916
Growth and innovation continue: Ashland Manufacturing is renamed as Thomas E. Wilson Co. and the company purchases Hetzinger Knitting Mills to manufacture athletic uniforms and apparel. As a result of significant growth, the company moves into a building of its own, a red brick schoolhouse on Chicago's south side. The IndestructoTM Caddie Bag Co. is purchased and the complete luggage line is reduced to only golf bags. The J-4 basketball and the A-5 football are introduced.
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