Buffalo Rising Online

Oct 16th 2007, 1:52pm By Bill Zimmermann

That picture we selected is of Ralph Wilson during his prime, when his mere image filled the room like that of a lion on a hunt. No wonder, he was earlier a part owner of the Detroit Lions, but he branched into full ownership of the seventh team in the AFL league, supposedly to be placed in Miami, but then—no, it was settled on Buffalo.

The Bills haven’t had the best start of a season this year, but let’s not go losing our heads, like when On This Day in 1793, Marie Antoinette lost hers. She was the wife of Louis XVI, and was guillotined at the height of the French Revolution.

The Bills have had a hard season so far, but there’s hope yet, so let’s not all get hung up on it, like the ten fellows who were condemned as war criminals at the end of WWII’s Nuremberg trials and were all hanged On This Day in 1946.

But those are other worlds and other times. This is Bills Country. The Buffalo Bills celebrate their 48th birthday this month, having begun in October, 1959 as the seventh team of the AFL. Ralph Wilson paid $25,000 for a franchise that’s now estimated at over $500 million.

Part of Mr. Wilson’s first year payroll expenses went to a player named WR Elbert Dubenion, and it was On This Day, October 16, 1968 – that Dubenion retired, the last of the original Buffalo Bills. He was subsequently hired as a college scout for the team. The official Buffalo Bills site gives daily updates of special points in their history from On This Day…

It was Also On This Day on October 16, 1977 – we saw the LOWEST SCORING GAME IN BILLS HISTORY. The Bills beat the Atlanta Falcons 3-0 in the lowest-scoring game in team history. Talk about Norwood’s secure place in history—update your files to include an Upside of that story with the distinction of Bills’ Kicker Neil O'Donoghue's second-quarter field goal that was the Only Score of the game.

And also On This Day on October 16, 1989 -- FRANK REICH RALLIES BILLS -- Starting for injured Jim Kelly, team backup Frank Reich rallied the Bills in the fourth quarter, leading a 23-20 victory over the already unbeaten Los Angeles Rams. This historic moment (taking place before a national Monday Night Football audience) took place in front of a Rich Stadium crowd of 76,231.

The Bills are named after Buffalo Bill Cody, after Wilson held a local naming contest. They’ve seen struggle and success as few other teams, and are still guided by their original legendary owner. In hard start seasons like this one, it’s good to remember the high points over the span of time.

Wilson was a guiding force in AFL policies that ensured success, such as gate and television revenue sharing. As Wikipedia reports, “in 1961, with the rival Oakland Raiders in financial difficulty, Wilson loaned the club $400,000 and also would be willing to loan money to Billy Sullivan of the Patriots. Wilson helped keep those franchises afloat, likely saving the entire league from folding.”

If anyone in the AFL or NFL was every a Team Player, it would be Ralph Wilson. He’s from the old school of character and honor. In November 1963, it was Ralph Wilson who lobbied successfully to have American Football League games postponed the Sunday after JFK's assassination. The National Football League games went on. It’s that character that guides the Buffalo Bills and so, too, the spirit of Buffalo.

In 2018 Mr. Wilson will be 100. And you never know—people are living older. We may be tuning in on a rainy Sunday in 2018 and watch the camera’s scan the owner’s box and see Wilson cheering. One thing’s for sure, we’ll see that scene forever, regardless of the physical presence—but for the sometimes stronger presence in spirit of a man time-honored and who still honors time well.

It just so happens, Ralph Wilson, that today is Bosses’ Day across America. Cheers Boss!

Bills, you make us wanna shout: Hang in there! We will too!

That’s the news from On This Day from Buffalo.