Gerald Phipps

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.[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
  2. Kansas City Chiefs - History - AFL Origins
  3. 1 2 "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. 1 2 Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Archived March 1, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. Denver: A baseball town - The Denver Post
  8. http://www.coloradobusinesshalloffame.org/allan-and-gerald-phipps.html. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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