Ralph Wilson has died (Please be respectful in this thread)

[trapezeus]

Sad day for sure. He gave me my fandom of football as a young kid by giving us a team. He didn't have to take the deal when they said he couldn't go to miami. he could have taken his toys home and said no. but he was committed to football. He had his issues with ego and being a meddling owner, but we wouldn't all love this with such a passion if he didn't give us the team.

today is the day to thank him for that. in the coming weeks, i'm sure it will get uglier or more salutory based on their succession plan.

[Mr. Miyagi]

OMG!!!! RIP Ralph

[sukie]

I remember how the artist Ricig from the Courier Express used to draw Wilson holding money bags during the whole Joe Cribbs holdout. I was so young back then. Thanks Ralph.

[DraftBoy]

RIP Ralph Wilson

[BertSquirtgum]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...way-at-age-95/

[Mr. Miyagi]

Kelly's cancer returned, Ralph passes.

Will there still be Buffalo Bills in 2016?

[MidnightVoice]

The end of an era

[RedEyE]

RIP Ralph

[feldspar]

Will there still be Buffalo Bills in 2016?

I would say so. Because of the stadium lease, there is a $400 million penalty for anyone that wants to move the team in the first seven years of the lease, which was just applied last year. So unless somebody wants to buy the team AND pay an additional $400 million penalty to move the team (not to mention the other tremendous millions it would cost to make a move happen), it'll be the Buffalo Bills until at least 2020. $130 million is also being put into renovations for Ralph Wilson Stadium this offseason. Duff's wings will be available too...they're putting Duff's into the stadium...boneless wings for the riff-raff, and the whole shabang in the clubs and suites.

I include this because it probably needs to be heard by those that didn't know.

Ralph Wilson should be honored on this day. RIP Ralph, a true NFL pioneer.

Shocking news, even though he was 95-years-old. Sad news.

[Novacane]

Kelly's cancer returned, Ralph passes.

Will there still be Buffalo Bills in 2016?

Yes! Rip Mr Wilson.

[hemi13]

RIP Ralph. Thank you for giving us all those great years.
LONG LIVE THE BUFFALO BILLS !!!

[Captain gameboy]

Two connections.

As an ex ball boy, however briefly, for the Bills, a Buffalo native and a Charlottesville resident, thanks Mr Wilson for living a life that mattered.

A big benefactor for the University of Virginia, his alma mater, and true to his "stuff," few know about it.

[MTBillsFan]

Thank you Mr. Wilson for over 50 years of Bills football!

[Dozerdog]

Man- This sucks

One hour ago I stepped in the shower and for some reason I was thinking about Jim Kelly's cancer. I was thinking - Not that Ralph Wilson isnt a great man who lived a great life- but how unfair is it that he may outlive both Jack Kemp and Jim Kelly- the 2 biggest winners in the franchise history? I was trying to do the math in my head on how old he was.


I got out of the shower and heard the sad news

[gebobs]

OK...here we go. What will the next year bring?

[Historian]

I met him twice:

The first time was at the Airport, circa 1985. OJ was with him. Ralph found it odd that everyone wanted to shake his hand and get his autograph, as opposed to OJ's. He yelled to everybody, "You don't want my autograph, you want the Juice's!" I always thought that was pretty emblematic of the man. He was more happy being on the sidelines, as opposed to the spotlight.

The second time was in 2000. We had a Blue Coat meeting in one of the stadium lounges. (The one on the press box side) As it was breaking up, some of the members were chit chatting with Ralph and he was answering questions. I said to him, "You know Mr. Wilson, my Grandfather died about a year before the Bills made it to their first Super Bowl. He would have given his right arm to see that."

Ralph pointed at me and said, "THAT'S what I'm trying to build here! I want it to be a generational thing."

I shook his hand and thanked him.

Something I'll remember all my life.

Rest in peace big guy.

[Dr. Lecter]

http://blogs.buffalonews.com/live/20...wilson-jr.html

[Meathead]

my gma was ninety-seven when she died. for most ppl thats a very difficult age to live with, virtually constant suffering. for over a decade almost every time i saw her she told me she was more than ready to die. so when she finally did die i was more relieved than saddened. doesnt change the awesome memories i have of her but her quality of life was so poor it would not have been a bad thing for her to pass years earlier

i get the impression its been like that for a while with ralph. when he handed over the org to russ brandenberg it was self-evident, but i think ralph was suffering for a long time before that

so go in peace, and thanks a lot ralph. if it werent for you im positive the team would have left buffalo a while ago. heres hoping the plan you had in place secures the team in bflo and remains a legacy you can be proud of. ok not recently but still

[Dannyboy]

http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/bi...at-95-20140325

All I can do is be thankful for his generosity toward Buffalo and its long time Bills Fans. He could have turned his back on Buffalo a number of times but he didn't. Rest in Peace Ralph Wilson.

[Meathead]

I remember how the artist Ricig from the Courier Express used to draw Wilson holding money bags during the whole Joe Cribbs holdout. I was so young back then. Thanks Ralph.

he was my college art professor when i still entertained ideas of being a cartoonist. very fun and funny guy in person. is he still kicking?