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' 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 1975, 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 [8]

Notes and references

  1. ^ DenverBroncos.com – Official Website Of The Denver Broncos
  2. ^ Kansas City Chiefs - Dressing up the old AFL
  3. ^ "Gerald H. Phipps, Football Team Owner, 78", Obituaries, section 1, page 46, The New York Times, August 8, 1993, http://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/08/obituaries/gerald-h-phipps-football-team-owner-78.html
  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
  7. ^ Denver: A baseball town - The Denver Post
  8. ^ "Gerald H. Phipps, Football Team Owner, 78", Obituaries, section 1, page 46, The New York Times, August 8, 1993, http://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/08/obituaries/gerald-h-phipps-football-team-owner-78.html

External links

Preceded by
Bob Howsam		 Denver Broncos owner
1961–1981		 Succeeded by
Edgar Kaiser
Bob Howsam • Gerald Phipps • Edgar Kaiser • Pat Bowlen