Gerald Phipps

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Gerald Phipps (March 4, 1915 – August 6, 1993) was a businessman, President of Gerald H. Phipps, Inc., a construction company, and owner of the Denver Broncos American football club from 1961 to 1981.[1]

Phipps and Cal Kunz purchased the Broncos from founder Bob Howsam in May 1961 for less than $1 million.[2] Phipps was chairman of the National Football League Finance Committee from 1970 to 1981.[3] During Phipps's tenure as owner, the Broncos earned their first trip to the Super Bowl (in 1978) participating in Super Bowl XII and saw a significant rise in Denver Broncos popularity, called "Broncomania".[4][5] In 1985, Phipps became the first non-player to be inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame.[6] He is also a member of the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.[6]

Phipps was also the owner of the Denver Bears minor league baseball team.[7] He was a director of Rocky Mountain Empire Sports Inc., which owned the Denver Bears minor league baseball team from 1947 to 1984 [3]

Gerald Phipps graduated with a BA in English from Williams College. He and his brother Allan were inducted into the Colorado Business Hall of Fame.[8]

References[]

  1. ^ "DenverBroncos.com – Official Website Of The Denver Broncos". Archived from the original on 2007-06-10. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
  2. ^ "Kansas City Chiefs - History - AFL Origins". Archived from the original on 2010-03-02. Retrieved 2015-04-26.
  3. ^ a b "Gerald H. Phipps, Football Team Owner, 78". The New York Times. 8 August 1993.
  4. ^ MHR Broncos History Lesson - firstfan Interview - Mile High Report
  5. ^ Boccard: Broncomania now and then : Opinion : Boulder Daily Camera
  6. ^ a b Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Archived March 1, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Denver: A baseball town - The Denver Post
  8. ^ "Allan and Gerald Phipps".
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