YoloinOhio Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 (edited) It is staggering to think about everything that has happened, and changed, in 365 days. @buffalobills: One year after his passing, we remember Bills founding owner Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. and his lasting legacy. http://t.co/fN45glpeO6 Edited March 25, 2015 by YoloinOhio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truth on hold Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 R.I.P. Ralph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDIGGZ Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Thank you Mr. Wilson. Gone but never forgotten Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sodbuster Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 That was a depressing day. My head was telling me there was nothing to be worried about, but it was hard to avoid the fear that it could all be over for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoloinOhio Posted March 25, 2015 Author Share Posted March 25, 2015 The way he set up the trust, he ensured the Bills would stay in Buffalo and led to the Pegulas buying the team, and the team and city are on the rise. He was a wonderful philanthropist and person. RIP Ralph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanker Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 RIP Mr. Wilson. God rest your soul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real Buffalo Joe Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Honestly, Ralph's death was the saddest I've ever been for a death of someone I never met. The impact he's had on mine, and so many other's lives can't even be expressed. He made a lot of decision's that we didn't like. "Ralph is cheap" was a common rally cry around here. But when he passed, and we saw what he did for the community. Not only doing everything in his power to make sure the team stays in the Buffalo area after he passed, but all the community work he's done, made us realize how generous of a man he really was. Ralph will be missed, and we need to win the big one for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plenzmd1 Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Like other huge events during my lifetime, i will always remember where i heard the news...ironing a shirt in a hotel room in Providence RI. Till the day i join Ralph, will remember the shirt, the hotel, and GR on my phone. RIP Ralph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real Buffalo Joe Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Like other huge events during my lifetime, i will always remember where i heard the news...ironing a shirt in a hotel room in Providence RI. Till the day i join Ralph, will remember the shirt, the hotel, and GR on my phone. RIP Ralph My old boss used to make fun of me. Tell me I look at this site too much. "It's the offseason, it's not like there's anything important going on. Get to work." My reply was always "Brian, our owner is 95 years old. I don't want to curse it, but something could happen at any minute." I remember coming back from break, and seeing a thread titled "RIP Ralph Wilson" and I honestly thought it was some joke title, that Ralph had done some over the top cheap thing. When I clicked it, my heart stopped. I honestly had to take two hours of sick time just to process what I'd just read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Linen Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 The way he set up the trust, he ensured the Bills would stay in Buffalo and led to the Pegulas buying the team, and the team and city are on the rise. He was a wonderful philanthropist and person. RIP Ralph. I couldn't say it better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Lightning Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 I will always begin each Bills game experience with a silent "thanks Mr. Wilson." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roc Bronson Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 R.I.P Mr. Wilson I never use the Ralph is Cheap madness I had tons of respect for the guy. He kept a franchise that I love dearly in WNY. In doing so I had far too much respect to disrespect his name. Unfortunately he passed on my birthday which made this even harder to believe. So today I celebrate my birthday and the life of the Bills long time owner. God Bless His Soul. Bills Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real Buffalo Joe Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 R.I.P Mr. Wilson I never use the Ralph is Cheap madness I had tons of respect for the guy. He kept a franchise that I love dearly in WNY. In doing so I had far too much respect to disrespect his name. Unfortunately he passed on my birthday which made this even harder to believe. So today I celebrate my birthday and the life of the Bills long time owner. God Bless His Soul. Bills Happy Birthday. Celebrate. It's what Ralph would have wanted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4merper4mer Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 The way he set up the trust, he ensured the Bills would stay in Buffalo and led to the Pegulas buying the team, and the team and city are on the rise. He was a wonderful philanthropist and person. RIP Ralph. Agreed. I'd also add he was a gentleman in the truest sense of the word. RIP Ralph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebandit27 Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 I'll never get tired of saying it: Thank you, Ralph. You gave us our beloved Bills, and because of you, we get to keep them forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFanM.D. Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 The way he set up the trust, he ensured the Bills would stay in Buffalo and led to the Pegulas buying the team, and the team and city are on the rise. He was a wonderful philanthropist and person. RIP Ralph. So true. I never understood the 'cheap' thing anyway. He doled out big bucks to star players during my life. He was more frugal with coaches but from making Kelly the highest paid player in the league (having never played in the NFL); to matching Bruce's Denver offer; all the way down to making rich men of Dockery and Walker....Ralph paid players. Add in the fact that the man gave a billion dollars (read that again...) to his Foundation tells you all you need to know. He was Oz...sitting back and pulling all the strings so the Bills; us fans; and the greater Buffalo area would benefit for a very long time. All the while, he was taking 'cheap' shots knowing better days were coming and that he, himself, would never see or enjoy them. Thanks Mr. Wilson! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real Buffalo Joe Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 I know there's already a RIP Ralph thread. But Ralph gave us all a gift. Sure the gift has caused us a lot of money, and a lot of heartache, but a gift that we ultimate love and wouldn't want any way. I thought I'd start a thread where people just left a message about what the Bills mean to them, maybe a memory of the team. Doesn't necessarily have to be about Ralph. It could be about a game you attended, meeting a player, or even a memory just from a game you watched on TV. Just something about what this team really means to you, despite a W-L record that hasn't always been so great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerball Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 RIP Ralphy boy. Thanks for keeping the team in Buffalo and allowing it to remain there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadian Bills Fan Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Thank you Ralph for everything you have done. You are truly a great man and a legend RIP CBF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Czervik Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 The way he set up the trust, he ensured the Bills would stay in Buffalo and led to the Pegulas buying the team, and the team and city are on the rise. He was a wonderful philanthropist and person. RIP Ralph. Absolutely! He definitely did have a plan all along and got the last laugh. Check and mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsfan1959 Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 49 years of memories since I first began following the Bills...and counting. Thank you Mr. Wilson and rest in peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Jabber Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 R.I.P. Mr. Wilson. Thank you for putting a football team in Buffalo, keeping them here for all of these years, as well as everything you did to make sure they stayed in Buffalo for many years to come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RevWarRifleman Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 R I P Ralph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xsoldier54 Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 RIP Mr. Wilson and thank your for our beloved Bills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkAF43 Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Mr. Wilson, RIP. Thank you for everything. We may not have our Super Bowl yet, but we will and it will be in huge part to your vision to ensure the Bills stayed where they belong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GG Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Bills just announced they will build a statue for Ralph Wilson Jr. at the stadium Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
destro32 Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 per Bills App - The bills have announced plans to build a statue of Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. at the stadium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellaman101 Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 My facebook post about this man One year ago today, heaven got a great man! I owe this man a lot in life. Not only did he keep the Bills in Buffalo, he made sure it stayed in Buffalo after his death. It wasnt all about money with Ralph, it was about morals and his belief that even a small market, like Buffalo, deserved a team. This man took the time out of his day to write a personal letter to me while on deployment and even answered my return letter to him. RIP Mr Wilson and THANK YOU! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roc Bronson Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Happy Birthday. Celebrate. It's what Ralph would have wanted. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RevWarRifleman Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 I know I posted to this previously, but I have a little more time now & want to put a few more things in. First, thanks Yolo for putting the post up. Next, over the years that Ralph owned the team, I, like others, would get frustrated at the direction the team would be in during those chunks of losing seasons. But I always loved him for bringing pro football to western NY. And ever since that happened, the Bills have been my favorite team in all of sports, and my favorite sports topic to discuss, year around. Last year at this time, I felt like a family member passed away when I got the news that Ralph died. And when I watched the Steve Tasker presser about Ralph, I don't know why, but it really hit home with me & tears were running down my face. Maybe it was that even though he was trying to hold it together, he told that funny story about Ralph wearing his "lucky pair of pants" on Thursday's practices. Anyway, R I P Ralph and thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy10 Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 And what a freaking year it's been. Rest well, Ralph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordio Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 So true. I never understood the 'cheap' thing anyway. He doled out big bucks to star players during my life. He was more frugal with coaches but from making Kelly the highest paid player in the league (having never played in the NFL); to matching Bruce's Denver offer; all the way down to making rich men of Dockery and Walker....Ralph paid players. Add in the fact that the man gave a billion dollars (read that again...) to his Foundation tells you all you need to know. He was Oz...sitting back and pulling all the strings so the Bills; us fans; and the greater Buffalo area would benefit for a very long time. All the while, he was taking 'cheap' shots knowing better days were coming and that he, himself, would never see or enjoy them. Thanks Mr. Wilson! Agree, he always didn't spend his money wisely but he did pay players. RIP Mr. Wilson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsfaninMyrtleBeach Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 R.I.P Mr. Wilson. Thank you for the many ways you changed Western New York. Gone but never forgotten. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsPride12 Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Thanks Ralph for keeping your word until the end about keeping the Bills in Buffalo! Much respect for being a man of your word and never selling out to the corporate aspect of this league Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim in Anchorage Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 My old boss used to make fun of me. Tell me I look at this site too much. "It's the offseason, it's not like there's anything important going on. Get to work." My reply was always "Brian, our owner is 95 years old. I don't want to curse it, but something could happen at any minute." I remember coming back from break, and seeing a thread titled "RIP Ralph Wilson" and I honestly thought it was some joke title, that Ralph had done some over the top cheap thing. When I clicked it, my heart stopped. I honestly had to take two hours of sick time just to process what I'd just read. Your boss told you to get to work and you explained you couldn't because Ralph is old? Oh that's right you said "old boss." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keepthefaith Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Thanks Ralph for keeping your word until the end about keeping the Bills in Buffalo! Much respect for being a man of your word and never selling out to the corporate aspect of this league Well said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandler#81 Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Like ALL WNY'ers, I'm eternally grateful Miami wouldn't let his new team play in the Orange Bowl, so he went with his 2nd choice. This said, there has NEVER been a year in Bills history like this past year and the grimness of his frugality is finally fading away. Rest in Peace, Ralph. Hooray for the Pegula's!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
\GoBillsInDallas/ Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 A big erection that will stand tall: http://www.rbj.net/article.asp?aID=213435 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Go-Bills Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Top notch owner! RIP Ralph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Turk Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 I forgot he passed away on my Dad's birthday...kinda crazy... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts