EasternOHBillsFan Posted November 25, 2013 Share Posted November 25, 2013 I have scoured the 'net for a former NFL owner older than Ralph Wilson, names such as Wellington Mara, Art Rooney, George Halas, Bud Adams, but no dice so far. Anyone have an idea? I find it fascinating after being reminded yesterday with all the Bon Jovi talk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KollegeStudnet Posted November 25, 2013 Share Posted November 25, 2013 Yes he is Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kkspike Posted November 25, 2013 Share Posted November 25, 2013 Long live the king. Long live the king. It's good to be the king. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 I have scoured the 'net for a former NFL owner older than Ralph Wilson, names such as Wellington Mara, Art Rooney, George Halas, Bud Adams, but no dice so far. Anyone have an idea? I find it fascinating after being reminded yesterday with all the Bon Jovi talk. It's 'cause of estate taxes. Ralph is too cheap to die. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major Mud Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 It's 'cause of estate taxes. Ralph is too cheap to die. Lol, good one, not too bad a payoff after a $35,000 investment. Hell from that to a team worth almost a Billion. And it only took 50+ years! not bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFan-4-Ever Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_is_the_oldest_NFL_team_owner#slide2 if you trust wiki answers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CowgirlsFan Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 Wellington Mara of the New York Giants was 89 at his death. Born in Rochester NY too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 Kiko pounds life into Ralph! At this pace, Ralph will live forever! Thanks Kiko! Kinda like this. It is called: "Kiko Life Support" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dibs Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 Lol, good one, not too bad a payoff after a $35,000 investment. Hell from that to a team worth almost a Billion. And it only took 50+ years! not bad. I heard recently that in the early days of the AFL he secretly(and illegally) invested $500,000 into the Raiders to keep them afloat as the fledgling league couldn't afford to have any teams go under. My point being that he had to work at his investment for it to pay off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garion Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 Actually I am curious if he is the oldest professional sports owner in any major sport? Not many 95 year olds, not many billionaire sports team owners to be both is probably almost unique Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ganesh Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 I have scoured the 'net for a former NFL owner older than Ralph Wilson, names such as Wellington Mara, Art Rooney, George Halas, Bud Adams, but no dice so far. Anyone have an idea? I find it fascinating after being reminded yesterday with all the Bon Jovi talk. He is probably the OLDEST OWNER of any Business! Period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nucci Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 I heard recently that in the early days of the AFL he secretly(and illegally) invested $500,000 into the Raiders to keep them afloat as the fledgling league couldn't afford to have any teams go under. My point being that he had to work at his investment for it to pay off. It's an old story and well known. Also true...not sure the exact amount but the Raiders were about to go under and Ralph realized league could too so he helped finance the Raiders to keep the league alive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 It's an old story and well known. Also true...not sure the exact amount but the Raiders were about to go under and Ralph realized league could too so he helped finance the Raiders to keep the league alive. The Raiders story is true. But it's also whispered that Ralph traded Darrel Lamonica to the Raiders to shore up his investment. PTR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris heff Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 The Raiders story is true. But it's also whispered that Ralph traded Darrel Lamonica to the Raiders to shore up his investment. PTR In fifty years this is the first time I've heard this one. I recall that Ralph was angry with Al Davis for decades for trading an over the hill (Art Powell ), and an injured player (Tom Flores) for Lamonica. The story was that Ralph had bailed out the Raiders and then they cheated him. The $400k loan would have been to the original owner not Davis. I wonder if it had been paid back by the time that trade happened? That trade happened in 1967, after the merger. It seams to me it would have had to have been paid back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major Mud Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 Less expansion teams, wouldn't Ralph still be the only original owner of a team from its inception? In today's sports that's quite an accomplishment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts