On Saturday, Bills fans celebrated the life of Ralph Wilson, Jr., the only owner in team history. His widow has issued a statement thanking the fans for their support.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank Bills fans and people everywhere for their tremendous outpouring of love for Ralph,” Mary Wilson said in a statement issued by the team. “Their heartfelt condolences and warm wishes have truly been a comfort for me, Ralph’s daughters Christy and Dee Dee, Mary Owen, and the entire Wilson family during this difficult time.
“Ralph loved his life and he had a great full life that touched so many people in a variety of ways. He loved his family and his many friends. He loved his Buffalo Bills and he loved the fans. Before he passed, he told me that he wanted people to celebrate his life after he was gone. He wasn’t big on tears. And so that’s why we are referring to events such as the one today as ‘celebrating’ the life of Ralph Wilson.
“This man accomplished so many things during his time and most of them have been well documented in the past couple of weeks. But the one thing that everyone has mentioned in their kind words was his sense of humor and that certainly was one of his most endearing qualities. Ralph most likely would have offered a funny quip about today’s event. But at the same time, he would have been profoundly touched by the fans outpouring of emotion.”
No, Bills fans, the statement contains no hints about Mary Wilson’s plans for the team. She’ll undoubtedly sell, probably soon. But she has yet to address the critical question of whether she’ll ensure the franchise is sold to a person or group that will keep the franchise in Buffalo for decades to come.