(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) >> RALPH ENJOYED LIFE.

>> HE DID LOVE THE GAME.

HE LOVED TO BE PART OF IT.

>> HE KNEW HOW MUCH THESE TWO COMMUNITIES HAD GIVEN TO HIM, HIS UPBRINGING IN DETROIT AND OF COURSE, BUFFALO.

(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) >> HIS HEART IS RIGHT HERE IN WESTERN NEW YORK.

>> RALPH WILSON TOOK A GAMBLE ON THIS CITY.

>> HE GAVE BACK SO MUCH TO OUR COMMUNITY AND MADE IT SO MUCH BETTER.

>> BOTH THE FOOTBALL TEAM AND ALL THE PHILANTHROPY, JUST AN INCREDIBLE LEGACY.

(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) >> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "RALPH" IS PROVIDED BY NEW ERA CAP COMPANY.

SINCE 1920, NEW ERA HAS BEEN HANDCRAFTING HEADWEAR RIGHT HERE IN WESTERN NEW YORK.

A FAMILY-OWNED COMPANY HEADQUARTERED IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK, NEW ERA IS PROUD TO BE THE CAP OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE AND HONORED TO BE A PARTNER OF THE BUFFALO BILLS ORGANIZATION.

AND WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM FIVE STAR BANK.

FOR 200 YEARS, FIVE STAR BANK HAS HELPED FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES IN WESTERN NEW YORK WITH THEIR BANKING NEEDS.

FIVE STAR BANK PAYS TRIBUTE TO RALPH WILSON JR.

WHO LEFT A PROUD LEGACY IN SPORT AND IN THE GAME OF LIFE.

(CROWD CHEERING) >> IT HAS BEEN A GRAND RIDE FOR ME AND TONIGHT IS THE HIGH POINT.

>> RALPH WILSON JR.

WAS SUCCESSFUL IN VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING HE DID.

WHILE HE DIDN'T SEEK THE LIMELIGHT, HE RELISHED ONE PARTICULAR RECOGNITION.

>> IT WAS HUGE FOR RALPH TO GET IN THE HALL OF FAME.

IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US THAT MR.

WILSON WAS IN THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME.

>> TO BE HONORED AND ENSHRINED IN THE HALL OF FAME WAS SOMETHING THAT HE TOOK AS A REAL CAPSTONE TO A WONDERFUL CAREER AND A WONDERFUL LIFE.

>> THAT WAS ONE OF THE GREAT DAYS IN BUFFALO HISTORY.

>> THE JOURNEY TO THE HALL OF FAME BEGAN IN 1959 WHEN WILSON, AS A FOUNDING OWNER OF THE AMERICAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, WAS OFFERED A CHOICE WHERE TO LOCATE HIS NEW FRANCHISE.

>> AND I PICKED BUFFALO.

(CROWD CHEERS) >> IT WAS A LUCKY PICK BECAUSE OVER THE YEARS, THEY HAVE SUPPORTED THE TEAM IN BUFFALO BEYOND OUR FONDEST DREAMS.

AND WITHOUT THIS SUPPORT, I WOULDN'T BE ON THIS PLATFORM TONIGHT.

(APPLAUSE) >> RALPH WILSON JR.

GREW UP IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

HE GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA AND SERVED ON MINESWEEPERS DURING WORLD WAR II.

>> PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT CALLED ON THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN IN THE COUNTRY TO SERVE.

IT WAS A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE YOUR COUNTRY, I THINK.

>> AFTER THE WAR, WILSON JOINED HIS FATHER'S INSURANCE BUSINESS IN DETROIT.

>> WE HAVE SOME LETTERS THAT HE WROTE TO HIS FATHER WHEN HE WAS IN WORLD WAR II AND HE'D ALWAYS SIGN THEM, YOUR PAL.

THEY WERE SO CLOSE.

>> THE VAST MAJORITY OF RALPH'S BUSINESS INSTINCTS AND VALUES AND BELIEFS WERE FORMED THROUGH HIS FATHER.

>> RALPH DIVERSIFIED AND GREW THE FAMILY BUSINESS.

>> I THINK THE WILSONS COLLECTIVELY WERE PURE ENTREPRENEURS.

THEY SAW AN OPPORTUNITY, GOT INTERESTED IN IT, AND THEY PURSUED IT.

>> FINANCIAL SUCCESS ALLOWED THE WILSONS TO OCCASIONALLY COMBINE BUSINESS WITH PLEASURE.

>> WHEN THEY ENTERED THE THOROUGHBRED BREEDING AND RACING BUSINESS, I DON'T THINK THEY ENTERED IT WITH THE THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE MONEY.

THEY ENTERED IT TO HAVE SOME FUN.

THE SAME WAS TRUE WITH HIS ENTRY INTO FOOTBALL.

IT WAS A PASSION.

SO HE KNEW THAT THERE WAS A BUSINESS VENTURE IN THERE, BUT THAT DIDN'T DRIVE HIM.

RALPH LOVED COMPETITION AND HE LOVED FOOTBALL.

THAT'S WHAT DROVE RALPH WILSON.

>> IN 1959, WILSON BECAME A FOUNDING OWNER OF THE AMERICAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE.

WHEN A PLAN TO LOCATE THE TEAM IN MIAMI FELL THROUGH, WILSON WAS GIVEN THE OPTION OF SEVERAL OTHER CITIES.

>> THE ADVICE CAME BACK THAT BUFFALO WOULD BE THE PLACE TO BE.

THEY LOVE SPORTS, THEY LOVE FOOTBALL.

YOU'VE GOT THE BIG STEEL MILLS THERE, YOU GOT STRONG BLUE-COLLAR FOLKS WHO'VE GOT DISPOSABLE INCOME AND THEY LOVE THE GAME OF FOOTBALL.

SO THIS WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE TO PUT A FRANCHISE.

>> HE BROUGHT BUFFALO ITS BIGGEST LINK TO THE BIG TIME.

THE BUFFALO BILLS ARE A CONNECTION THAT BUFFALO WOULD OTHERWISE LACK WITH SOMETHING HUGE AND NATIONAL.

>> FEW GAVE THE NEW LEAGUE A CHANCE FOR SUCCESS.

>> I GOT A LOT OF FLACK FROM MY FRIENDS THAT, YOU KNOW, RIDICULED AND LAUGHED AT THIS NEW LEAGUE.

>> TEAM OWNERS WERE CALLED "THE FOOLISH CLUB," A LABEL THEY WOULD LATER CARRY AS A BADGE OF HONOR.

>> THEY DON'T ALWAYS CALL YOU VISIONARY AT THE TIME.

TRUE VISIONARIES LOOK DOWN THE ROAD AND SEE THINGS THAT OTHERS DON'T SEE.

AND MR.

WILSON HAD THAT ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND HOW GREAT PRO FOOTBALL COULD BE.

>> BY THE MID-'60S, THE BILLS WERE HAVING SUCCESS ON THE FIELD.

>> 1964, 1965, OF COURSE, THEY WON AFL CHAMPIONSHIPS, WHICH REALLY BROUGHT THE LOYALTY TO ANOTHER LEVEL OF BUFFALO FANS BECAUSE NOW THEY HAD A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM.

>> HEITEL RUNS FOR HIS LIFE AND LOSES THREE YARDS, MUCH TO THE DELIGHT OF THE BILLS' OWNER RALPH WILSON.

(CROWD CHEERING) >> THE FUTURE OF THE NEW LEAGUE WAS NOT ASSURED.

ON TWO OCCASIONS, RALPH WILSON LOANED MONEY TO COMPETING FRANCHISES TO KEEP THEM AFLOAT.

IN 1965, THE AFL WAS NEGOTIATING AN IMPORTANT NEW TELEVISION CONTRACT.

OTHER OWNERS WERE READY TO AGREE ON A NEW TV DEAL.

WILSON COUNSELED HOLDING OUT FOR MORE MONEY.

>> WHATEVER THE INITIAL NUMBER WAS, THEY RELAYED THAT TO RALPH AND HE SAID THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.

THIS IS NOT GONNA GET IT DONE.

WE'RE TRYING TO COMPETE WITH THE NFL.

WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A LOT MORE MONEY TO DO THIS.

>> WILSON'S LEADERSHIP RESULTED IN A TV DEAL TO PUT THE AFL ON AN EQUAL FOOTING WITH THE ESTABLISHED NFL.

>> I DON'T KNOW OF ANYBODY WHO HAD AS MUCH COURAGE AS RALPH.

IT WAS THAT COURAGE THAT HELPED THE EARLY LEAGUE HOLD OUT FOR A TV DEAL THAT ASSURED THEIR VIABILITY.

>> IT MADE THE POINT THAT HE COULD SEE WHAT THAT LEAGUE NEEDED TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND ULTIMATELY IT FORCED THE MERGER.

RALPH WILSON SAW THE BIG PICTURE UNLIKE MANY OTHERS WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THIS GAME.

>> A YEAR AFTER THE TV DEAL, WILSON SERVED ON A COMMITTEE TO NEGOTIATE THE AFL/NFL MERGER.

WHEN THE MERGER WENT INTO EFFECT IN 1970, THE BILLS WERE REQUIRED TO HAVE A LARGER STADIUM.

>> THAT PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON MR.

WILSON.

THE COMMUNITY DIDN'T FULLY UNDERSTAND WHY DO THEY NEED A NEW STADIUM, AND OF COURSE IT WAS GONNA HAVE TO COME AT SOME TAXPAYER EXPENSE.

THERE WAS SOME CONTENTIOUS NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN MR.

WILSON AND THE FOOTBALL TEAM AND THE COUNTY AND THE CITY AND THE STATE.

>> THE STADIUM ISSUE INTRODUCED FOR THE FIRST TIME THE IDEA THAT THE BILLS MIGHT NOT ALWAYS BE IN BUFFALO.

>> THERE WAS A LOT OF RHETORIC GOING AROUND THAT HE WAS GOING TO MOVE THE TEAM OR MIGHT MOVE THE TEAM.

I THINK MR.

WILSON GOT A LOT OF NEGATIVE PRESS FOR THAT.

>> HONESTLY, I BELIEVE IT WAS MORE FRUSTRATION.

FRUSTRATION THAT THERE WASN'T AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE REAL IMPACT THAT THE BUFFALO BILLS HAD IN WESTERN NEW YORK.

AND SOMETIMES WE ALL HAVE TO BE REMINDED THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING VERY VALUABLE.

>> HE ALSO DIDN'T WANT BUFFALO TO FEEL ENTITLED TO THE TEAM.

>> THAT'S HOW YOU NEGOTIATE, BUT RALPH WOULD NOT MAKE SUCH A MISTAKE TO HARM PEOPLE AND TO HARM FANS.

>> I DON'T THINK MR.

WILSON EVER REALLY HAD ANY INTENTION OF MOVING THE TEAM, BUT HE NEEDED TO PROTECT HIS ASSET AND SO LIKE ANY GOOD BUSINESSMAN WOULD DO, HE WAS CHECKING OUT ALTERNATIVES.

>> IN 1971, AFTER MORE THAN THREE YEARS OF DEBATE, THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE APPROVED FUNDING FOR A NEW STADIUM AT ORCHARD PARK.

(CROWD CHEERING) >> IN FUTURE YEARS, THERE WOULD BE OTHER TALK OF THE BILLS LEAVING BUFFALO.

BUT DURING RALPH WILSON'S MORE THAN 50 YEARS AS OWNER, IT NEVER HAPPENED.

>> PEOPLE WOULD SAY, WELL, WHY DON'T YOU MOVE THE TEAM AND TAKE IT TO A BIGGER CITY?

I WOULD NEVER THINK OF MOVING THE TEAM.

>> WILSON'S LOYALTY EXTENDED BEYOND BUFFALO.

DURING MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY AS AN OWNER, HE CONSISTENTLY VOTED AGAINST ALLOWING TEAMS TO RELOCATE TO NEW CITIES.

>> MR.

WILSON'S LEGACY TO PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL IS HE HELPED MAKE IT THE NUMBER ONE SPECTATOR SPORT IN AMERICA BY BEING INNOVATIVE, BY SEEING THE FUTURE, AND BY PROTECTING THE SMALL MARKET TEAMS AND THE REVENUE SHARING CONCEPT.

>> WILSON'S INFLUENCE WAS FELT IN 2011 DURING NEGOTIATIONS FOR A NEW COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT.

>> AND IT'S NOT GOING WELL.

ROGER GOODELL SPOKE WITH RALPH.

HE PUT HIM ON A CONFERENCE CALL WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE AND RALPH HAD TWO MESSAGES FOR THEM.

HE SAID, STAY THE COURSE.

AND HE SAID, REMEMBER, WHATEVER YOU DO IN HERE HAS GOT TO BE GOOD FOR ALL 32 TEAMS.

>> RALPH WAS THE CONSCIENCE OF THE NFL.

HE DIDN'T GET UP ALL THE TIME, BUT WHEN HE DID, YOU COULD HEAR A PIN DROP IN THAT ROOM.

AND HE WOULD LAY OUT HIS THOUGHTS AND HIS VISION AND HE WAS ALWAYS SPOT-ON.

>> AS SOMEONE WHO OWNED A SMALL MARKET TEAM, HE DIDN'T THINK SMALL MARKET.

HE HAD "LEAGUE THINK" IN MIND AND THAT WAS ALWAYS THE PHRASE THAT PEOPLE WOULD PUT TO THOSE WHO COULD SEE THE BIG PICTURE.

>> HE RESPECTED THE GAME SO MUCH AND HE WAS INVOLVED WITH EVERY ONE OF THOSE MAJOR DECISIONS.

WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT OUR HISTORY, IT ACTUALLY CREATED THE SUCCESS WE ALL HAVE NOW.

>> WHAT FANS MOST WANT FROM THEIR TEAM AND OWNER IS WINNING, BUT THE BILLS STRUGGLED IN THE YEARS FOLLOWING THE MERGER.

BY THE MID-'80S, WILSON ASSEMBLED AN OFF THE FIELD TEAM THAT WOULD LEAD THE BILLS TO THEIR GREATEST SUCCESS.

>> IF I WAS A FINAL PIECE, I'M COMPLIMENTED, BUT IT WAS AN OWNER LIKE RALPH WILSON, A GENERAL MANAGER LIKE BILL POLIAN, THE DIRECTOR OF PLAYER PERSONNEL JOHN BUTLER, ALL CAME TOGETHER AND IT WAS JUST A DELIGHT.

>> WITH RALPH WILSON, NOT ONLY WAS IT A MATTER OF PICKING THOSE PEOPLE, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THOSE PEOPLE KNEW HOW HE WANTED THINGS DONE.

>> NOT JUST THE SUCCESS WE HAD, BUT THE WAY THE ORGANIZATION WAS RUN AND THE SPIRIT THAT PERVADED.

I COACHED FOR 47 YEARS IN 12 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, THIS WAS THE MOST DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE AND ADMIRABLE ORGANIZATION YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE.

>> EVEN THOUGHT HE WASN'T SITTING NEXT TO THEM AND IN TOWN ALL THE TIME, THOSE PHONE CALLS FROM DETROIT WAS FREQUENT.

HE DEFINITELY HAD A HAND AND VERY MUCH WAS INVOLVED IN A LOT OF THE LARGER DECISIONS.

>> BY THE START OF THE '90S, WILSON AND HIS MANAGEMENT TEAM ASSEMBLED THE PLAYERS TO MAKE A CHAMPIONSHIP RUN.

HE SPENT LAVISHLY ON PLAYERS.

QUARTERBACK JIM KELLY SIGNED AN $8 MILLION DEAL.

DEFENSIVE END BRUCE SMITH WAS DRAFTED IN 1986, AND A DRAFT-A GAMBLE IN 1988 ADDED RUNNING BACK THURMAN THOMAS.

THEY BECAME THE HIGHEST PAID PLAYERS AT THEIR POSITION AND ALL ARE IN THE HALL OF FAME.

>> I LOOK BACK ON WHAT HE'S MEANT TO EVERYBODY.

WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT THE CAMARADERIE THAT WE HAD TO HAVE IN ORDER TO DO WHAT WE ALL WANTED TO DO, THE GOALS THAT WE ALL SET FOR OURSELVES, HE KNEW OUT PERSONALITIES.

HE SAW THEM.

HE'S PAYING US.

HE KNEW.

BUT WE NEEDED TO KNOW.

AND WHEN HE SAID IT, WE GOT IT.

AND THANK GOD WE DID.

>> THE TEAM IN THE '90S WENT TO FOUR STRAIGHT SUPER BOWLS.

THEY HAD ONE OF THE GREAT TEAMS IN THE HISTORY OF THE NFL.

CERTAINLY ONE OF THE GREAT TEAMS NEVER TO WIN THE SUPER BOWL.

>> THE BILLS ARE THE ONLY TEAM IN NFL HISTORY TO GO TO FOUR STRAIGHT SUPER BOWLS, AND THE ONLY TEAM EVER TO LOSE FOUR YEARS IN A ROW.

>> THE YEARS THAT REALLY MADE YOU SEE WHAT TYPE OF PERSON THAT MR.

WILSON WAS WAS THAT AFTER EVERY SUPER BOWL LOSS THAT WE HAD, THE FOUR YEARS IN A ROW, MR.

WILSON WOULD COME AROUND.

HE WOULD REMEMBER A PLAY THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MADE DURING THE SEASON TO GET TO THE SUPER BOWL.

HE WAS ABLE TO MAKE THE GUYS FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT YOU.

>> HE WOULD TELL US ALL THE TIME, ENJOY THIS.

ENJOY THIS MOMENT.

THEY DON'T COME ALONG VERY OFTEN AND THEY WON'T LAST VERY LONG.

>> I THINK THAT WAS A HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT FOR HIM AND I'M NOT SURE YOU EVER TRULY GET OVER THAT.

>> HE WANTED A SUPER BOWL SO BADLY FOR BUFFALO.

>> WE HAD AN OWNER THAT DID EVERYTHING FOR US.

EVERYTHING FOR THE CITY.

THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT'S REALLY MISSING OUT OF THIS WHOLE STORY, OUT OF MR.

WILSON'S LIFE IS THAT WE AS PLAYERS COULD NOT BRING THE ULTIMATE CHAMPIONSHIP TO A GREAT OWNER, A GREAT FRIEND, A GREAT PERSON LIKE MR.

WILSON.

>> IN THE YEARS THAT FOLLOWED, THE BILLS WERE UNABLE TO MATCH THE SUCCESS OF THE SUPER BOWL TEAMS.

>> IT TURNED INTO A DIFFERENT GAME FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT.

AND IF RALPH WAS GUILTY OF ANYTHING, IT WAS JUST NOT FINDING THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO PERFORM AS WELL AT THEIR JOBS AS THE PEOPLE HE HAD DURING THE SUPER BOWL ERA.

AND THEN A CULTURE, I THINK, WITHIN THE BUILDING THAT PROBABLY GOT AWAY FROM HIS AS WELL WAS JUST A CERTAIN LEVEL OF COMPLACENCY.

WHAT ULTIMATELY HAPPENED WAS THIS TEAM JUST GOT REALLY GOOD AT SELLING HOPE AND NOT DELIVERING ON IT.

>> EVERYBODY COMES IN TO EVERY SEASON WITH HOPE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE GOOD, AND CLEARLY THE PEOPLE OF WESTERN NEW YORK HAD THAT HOPE.

>> TO BE A WESTERN NEW YORKER MEANS YOU HAVE GO TO LEAN ON YOUR OPTIMISM.

THERE'S BEEN AMPLE FRUSTRATION BECAUSE IT'S BEEN TOO LONG SINCE THEY SAW THE BILLS PLAY A PLAYOFF GAME.

AND THERE ARE NOW GENERATIONS OF FANS WHO DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE GOOD TIMES.

AND YOU STAY OPTIMISTIC BECAUSE HAVING HOPE IS BETTER THAN NOT HAVING THE TEAM.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE RALPH WILSON LEGACY, THIS IS IT.

IT'S HERE.

THIS DIDN'T LEAVE.

HE CHOSE BUFFALO.

HE TOOK THE RISK ON BUFFALO WAY BACK WHEN.

>> THROUGH THE UPS AND DOWNS, A BOND FORMED BETWEEN OWNER AND FANS.

>> THERE'S A TWO-WAY LOYALTY HERE.

THERE'S THE LOYALTY OF MR.

WILSON TO THE FANS IN THE COMMUNITY HERE IN BUFFALO AND THE FANS GAVE ALL THAT LOYALTY BACK TO THE BUFFALO BILLS AND TO MR.

WILSON.

I THINK THAT'S VERY UNIQUE IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS.

>> ONE OF THE BIG REASONS I THINK OUR TEAM WAS ABLE TO FIGHT THEIR WAY BACK TO SUPER BOWL AFTER SUPER BOWL AFTER THE DEVASTATING FEELING OF LOSING WAS THE SUPPORT WE HAD FROM THE FANS.

>> NOT JUST LOSING SUPER BOWLS, BUT EVENTUALLY LATER WE'RE NOT MAKING THE PLAYOFFS.

>> HE CARED VERY MUCH ABOUT THE FAN AND CARED ABOUT GIVING THEM A GOOD PRODUCT.

AND IT DIDN'T ALWAYS WORK OUT.

>> HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE FANS WOULD BE UPSET IF THEY WEREN'T WINNING AND HIS ONLY WAY TO SOLVE THAT WAS TO TRY TO DO BETTER AND START WINNING.

AND HE WAS VERY LOYAL TO BUFFALO BECAUSE THEY'RE DIE-HARD BUFFALO BILLS FANS.

>> HE ENJOYED WALKING THROUGH THE PARKING LOT AND THROUGH THE CORRIDORS OF THE STADIUM ON GAME DAY WITH PEOPLE SHOUTING OUT SUPPORT AND GOOD WISHES AND MAYBE NOW AND THEN A BLASPHEMY.

BUT HE ENJOYED IT.

>> RALPH JUST FIT INTO BUFFALO.

BUFFALO WAS THE PERFECT MARRIAGE FOR RALPH.

FANS WOULD COME UP TO HIM AND JUST SHAKE HIS HAND.

THEY WERE JUST SAYING THANK YOU.

THEY WERE SO APPRECIATIVE OF WHAT HE HAD BROUGHT TO BUFFALO.

>> THE PASSION THAT PEOPLE HAVE EACH AND EVERY DAY, WHAT IT MEANS TO OUR COMMUNITY, THAT RESONATED WITH RALPH.

>> THE FAN THAT SHOWS UP, GETS HIS PAYCHECK, GOES TO THE BANK AND NOW HAS THE CASH IN THE PAY ENVELOPE LIKE THEY DID BACK IN THE DAY AND THEN WALKS OVER TO THE TICKET OFFICE TO BUY HIS SEATS, THAT'S THE KIND OF FAN THAT RALPH KNEW EXISTED.

>> THE PEOPLE HERE, I THINK THEY'LL SKIP LUNCH AND DINNER TO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY A TICKET.

THAT'S HOW MUCH THEY LOVE THE BUFFALO BILLS IN THIS AREA.

(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) (CROWD CHEERING) >> WE'RE GOING TO THE SHOW!

OH, BABY!

WE'RE GOING TO THE SHOW.

TAKING US THERE MR.

WILSON.

>> RALPH WILSON RELISHED BEING AROUND HIS PLAYERS.

>> HE'D COME IN THE LOCKER ROOM AFTER THE GAME AND SOMETIMES AFTER A BIG VICTORY, COME IN AND JOIN IN SINGING OFF-KEY.

(LAUGHS) AND SLAPPING PLAYERS ON THE BACK AND SOME DAYS HE MIGHT JUST WALK AROUND IF THERE WAS A VERY DISAPPOINTING MOMENT AND JUST STOP BY A PLAYER AND PAT HIM ON THE BACK AND MOVE ON.

AND THEY ALL KNEW THAT THIS MAN CARED, AND AS A RESULT, THE CARED ABOUT HIM.

>> I'M JUST A BLESSED MAN TO SAY THAT MR.

WILSON WAS MY OWNER.

>> THE PLAYERS WERE AWARE THAT HEY, THE BOSS IS IN THE LOCKER ROOM.

AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY HOW WE BECAME MORE OF A FAMILY, YOU KNOW, HIM BEING IN THE LOCKER ROOM AND BEING A FIGURE.

HE WANTED TO BE A PART OF THE FOOTBALL TEAM.

>> HE LOVED GOING TO THE LOCKER ROOM BEFORE THE GAME.

AFTER THE GAME, HE WOULD GO STRAIGHT TO THE SICKBAY TO CHECK ON THE PLAYERS.

HE JUST ENJOYED IT, ABSOLUTELY ENJOYED EVERY ASPECT OF IT.

>> AFTER A TOUGH LOSS IN THE 1989 PLAYOFFS, WILSON DECIDED TO TAKE SOME TIME OFF.

HE TRAVELED TO THE WEST INDIES TO TAKE TENNIS LESSONS FROM MARY MCCLAIN.

>> HE SAW ME PLAYING TENNIS.

HE WANTED TO MEET ME AND EVENTUALLY HE DID AND IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF AN AMAZING LIFE FOR ME.

>> THEY WERE VERY COMPETITIVE.

THEY PLAYED TENNIS TOGETHER.

THEY HAD A REALLY FUNNY SENSE OF HUMOR WITH EACH OTHER AND JUST AN INCREDIBLE PARTNERSHIP.

>> I THINK HE REALLY APPRECIATED THE FACT THAT I LOVED SPORTS AND I LOVED BEING AROUND FOOTBALL.

I LOVED HIS LOVE OF SPORTS AND HE LOVED THE FACT THAT I COULD CARRY HIM ON THE TENNIS COURT.

HE WAS VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

>> MARY AND RALPH MARRIED IN 1999.

SHE IS FOND OF SAYING THAT SHE KEPT TELLING RALPH THAT HE WAS TOO OLD AND TOO RICH FOR HER.

SHE OFTEN REFERS TO THEIR LIFE TOGETHER AS A FAIRY TALE.

>> I MET RALPH AT A WONDERFUL TIME IN HIS LIFE.

EVERYTHING WAS REALLY COMING TOGETHER FOR HIM.

HE WAS 71, I WAS 45, AND I UNFORTUNATELY DID NOT REALLY KNOW WHAT I WAS GETTING INTO.

THIS INCREDIBLE GAME OF FOOTBALL AND THIS JOURNEY I WOULD BE GOING ON, LOOKING BACK ON IT, I THINK I WISH I COULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN SO THAT I COULD APPRECIATE IT EVEN MORE.

>> THEY WERE GREAT PARTNERS IN LIFE.

THEY SUPPORTED ONE ANOTHER AND SHE SHARED HIS VISION.

>> RALPH WILSON JR.

'S VISION CAME INTO FOCUS AFTER HIS PASSING AND THE SALE OF THE BUFFALO BILLS.

PROCEEDS FROM THE $1.4 BILLION SALE FUNDED THE RALPH C. WILSON JR.

FOUNDATION HELPING THE TWO CITIES HE LOVED, DETROIT AND BUFFALO.

IT WAS QUITE A JOURNEY FROM WILSON'S $25,000 INVESTMENT IN 1959 THAT CREATED THE BUFFALO BILLS.

>> HE USED TO LAUGH ABOUT THAT ALL THE TIME BECAUSE AT THAT POINT, THEY CALLED HIM PART OF "THE FOOLISH CLUB" AND HE SHOWED THEM.

AND HE SAID, I DON'T MIND BEING FOOLISH WHEN YOU COME OUT LIKE THIS.

TO HIM, IT REALLY WASN'T ABOUT MONEY.

IT WAS ABOUT CREATING SUCCESS AND CREATING AN IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.

>> IT IS THE MOST INCREDIBLE STORY THAT I STILL GET CHILLS.

YOU MADE ALL THIS MONEY THROUGH THE FOOTBALL TEAM, AND THEN BE ABLE TO NOW INVEST THAT BACK IN THE TWO REGIONS THAT SUPPORTED HIM.

>> GOOD JOB, YOU'RE DOING AWESOME.

>> YOU'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO HEAR MR.

WILSON'S NAME DONATING TO SOME TYPE OF CHARITY EVERY SINGLE YEAR PROBABLY FOR THE NEXT 20, 25 YEARS.

SO HIS LEGACY IS GONNA BE HERE AND STAY HERE FOREVER.

>> RALPH WILSON JR.

WAS A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN WHO AMASSED GREAT WEALTH, A VISIONARY IN THE WORLD OF PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL, AND A GENEROUS PHILANTHROPIST WHO LOVED HIS COMMUNITIES.

THROUGH IT ALL, HE REMAINED TRUE TO THE VALUES AND BELIEFS FORMED AT AN EARLY AGE FROM HIS FATHER.

HE LIVED IN DETROIT ALL OF HIS ADULT LIFE BUT ALWAYS CARRIED BUFFALO IN HIS HEART.

>> HE WALKED THE FINE LINE BETWEEN BEING AN OUTSIDER, BEING THIS DETROIT GUY.

THERE WAS A SENSE THAT HE DIDN'T EMBRACE THE COMMUNITY HERE, BUT WHAT HE DID WAS UNDERSTAND THIS COMMUNITY PROBABLY BETTER THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE BORN AND RAISED HERE.

>> HE KNEW HOW MUCH THESE TWO COMMUNITIES HAD GIVEN TO HIM AND HE JUST WANTED TO GIVE IT ALL BACK.

>> NOW IT IS A DIFFERENT RALPH WILSON THAT PEOPLE RECOGNIZE.

WHEN PEOPLE TELL THE STORY TO YOUNGER PEOPLE ABOUT WHO HE WAS, WHAT HE REPRESENTED, WHAT HE MEANT TO THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT HE MEANS NOW, THIS IS A WHOLE NEW LIFE, IF YOU WILL, FOR RALPH.

>> THAT'S THE ONE THING THAT I'VE GOTTEN OUT OF THIS RELATIONSHIP IS THAT HE JUST DIDN'T OWN A FOOTBALL TEAM AND CARED ABOUT A FOOTBALL TEAM, HE CARED ABOUT EVERYBODY.

>> IF YOU THINK ABOUT HIS LEGACY, HERE'S A MAN WHO BROUGHT A FOOTBALL TEAM TO BUFFALO THAT LIKELY WOULD NOT HAVE COME HERE.

AND THEN HE GOES THROUGH 55 YEARS OF UPS AND DOWNS.

HE COULD HAVE MOVED THE TEAM OUT OF BUFFALO MANY TIMES FOR MORE MONEY AND HE KEPT THE TEAM HERE AND HE WAS LOYAL TO THIS COMMUNITY WAY BEYOND WHAT I THINK MOST PEOPLE RECOGNIZE.

AND THEN HE SAYS, OH YEAH, BY THE WAY, NOW I'M GOING TO SELL THE TEAM FOR THE HIGHEST SALE PRICE IN THE HISTORY OF THE NFL FOR A SPORTS FRANCHISE TO SELL FOR AND NOW HE'S GIVING ALL THAT MONEY BACK TO BUFFALO AND DETROIT.

I MEAN, WHAT A LEGACY.

SO YES, YES IT'S PARTIALLY FOOTBALL.

WE HAVE A FOOTBALL TEAM BECAUSE OF HIM, BUT I THINK HIS LEGACY IS WE HAVE A MUCH BETTER COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF HIM.

>> WHAT RALPH HAD THAT I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO EXPERIENCE IS THAT HE WOKE UP EVERY DAY WITH JOY.

HE ALWAYS WANTED TO LAUGH.

HE LOVED LAUGHING AND HE LOVED BEING WITH PEOPLE WHO ENJOYED LAUGHTER AS HE DID.

WE HAD SO MUCH FUN TOGETHER AND SO MUCH JUST LOVE OF LIFE.

AND TRULY, HE WAS VERY, VERY BLESSED.

HE KNEW, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH (SNIFFS) LIFE HAD GIVEN HIM.

>> I THINK RALPH WILSON WAS SOMEONE WHO LOVED PRO FOOTBALL AND LOVED BEING THE GUY WHO COULD BRING IT TO THE THOSE WHO WOULD LOVE IT AS MUCH AS HE DID.

"AS MUCH AS YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO LOOK AT ME AS THIS RICH GUY, I'M ONE OF YOU."

>> I'VE ENJOYED THE ASSOCIATION WITH THE COACHES, WITH HUNDREDS OF PLAYERS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH THE FRANCHISE, AND THE FANS HERE IN THE CITY.

SO IT'S BEEN GREAT FOR ME AND I HOPE, I THINK IT'S GREAT FOR THEM TOO.

(APPLAUSE) >> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "RALPH" IS PROVIDED BY NEW ERA CAP COMPANY.

SINCE 1920, NEW ERA HAS BEEN HANDCRAFTING HEADWEAR RIGHT HERE IN WESTERN NEW YORK.

A FAMILY-OWNED COMPANY HEADQUARTERED IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK, NEW ERA IS PROUD TO BE THE CAP OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE AND HONORED TO BE A PARTNER OF THE BUFFALO BILLS ORGANIZATION.

AND WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM FIVE STAR BANK.

FOR 200 YEARS, FIVE STAR BANK HAS HELPED FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES IN WESTERN NEW YORK WITH THEIR BANKING NEEDS.

FIVE STAR BANK PAYS TRIBUTE TO RALPH WILSON JR.

WHO LEFT A PROUD LEGACY IN SPORT AND IN THE GAME OF LIFE.

(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)