Pat Bowlen obit

Denver Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen Dies of Alzheimer's at 75: 'His Shoes Will Never Be Filled'

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He was not on the list.

Longtime Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen died on Thursday night after a years-long battle with Alzheimer’s disease, his family announced. He was 75.

Bowlen took ownership of the franchise 35 years ago and helped to guide them to seven Super Bowl appearances, three of which they took home the trophy. According to ESPN, during Bowlen’s tenure, the team had 21 winning seasons, more than any other franchise during that time, and the second-most playoff appearances at 18.

In 2014, Bowlen was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, a progressive disease that causes brain cells to degenerate and die, slowly wiping away memories and other mental functions, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

After his diagnosis, Bowlen released control of the team to his family trust.

“Our family wishes to express its sincere gratitude for the outpouring of support we have received in recent years. Heaven got a little bit more orange and blue tonight,” the family said in a statement on Thursday, posted to the Broncos’ website. “Pat Bowlen had a competitive spirit with a great sense of humor. As fun-loving as he was, he always wanted us to understand the big picture. We will forever remember his kindness and humility.”

“More important than being an incredible owner, Pat Bowlen was an incredible human being,” the statement continued.

Bowlen will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August.

John Elway, the former Broncos quarterback and the team’s current general manager and president of football operations, called Bowlen a “mentor and friend” in a statement.

“Pat gave me so much and he was someone that I always looked up to. He gave this team everything we needed to be the best and compete for championships, and the focus was always on football,” Elway, 58, wrote. “That’s all you can ask for in an owner — yet he did more. He was a tremendous mentor to me and a tremendous friend. Pat was a great listener, always asking what was going on, and I learned so much from watching him.”

“He was a terrific leader,” he added. “Whether things were going right or things weren’t going right, he would always let you know what we needed to get better. He did a great job of applying pressure at the right times but always trusted his football people to make the right decisions… His shoes will never be filled. I will miss Pat greatly and will always treasure the times we had together. We’ll continue to take care of his team as if he were here today.”

According to ESPN, Bowlen had a generous heart to go along with his love for his team, having donated more than $30 million to charities, including the Denver Broncos Boys and Girls Club. He also paid for the funeral of cornerback Darrent Williams when he was killed in a drive-by shooting in 2007, and flew the entire team to Texas to be there for the ceremony.

Some of his the players, coaches, managers and commentators include: Sammy Winder, Gary Kubiak, Dan Reeves, Mike Shanahan, Steve Watson, Gerald Willhite, Butch Johnson, Rich Karlis, Clarence Kay, Keith Bishop, Tom Jackson, Louis Wright, Steve Foley, Karl Mecklenburg, Mike Harden, Rubin Carter, Paul Howard, Gene Lang, John Beake, Vance Johnson, Dennis Smith, Billy Bryan, Simon Fletcher, Shannon Sharpe, Gary Zimmerman, Terrell Davis, Champ Bailey, Steve Atwater, Peyton Manning, John Fox, Jerry Rice, Tony Dorsett, Brian Dawkins, Ty Law, John Lynch, Rod Smith, Tom Nalen, Jason Elam, Andre Townsend, Barney Chavous, Rulon Jones, Mark Jackson, Stan Jones, Chan Gailey, Alex Gibbs, Marvin Bass, Mark Haynes, Dave Studdard, Mike Horan, Keith Bishop, Michael Brooks, Joe Collier, Stefan Humphries, John Ayers, Calvin Thomas, Greg Kragen, Tyrone Braxton, David Treadwell, Steve Sewell, Bill Romanowski, Mike Young, Alphonso Carreker, Bobby Humphrey, Mike Nolan, Ricky Nattiel, Doug and Dave Widell, Gaston Green, Mike Croel, Sean Farrell, Michael Brooks, Charles Dimry, Tommy Maddox, Raymond Berry, Wade Phillips, Keith Traylor, Brian Sochia, Glyn Milburn, Les Steckel, Rod Bernstine, Tom Rouen, Dave Wyman, Dwayne Carswell, Mo Forte, Anthony Miller, Leonard Russell, Ted Washington, Will Furrer, Elijah Alexander, Mike Pritchard, Byron Chamberlain, Mike Heimerdinger, Jack Elway, Ed McCaffrey, Michael Dean Perry, Mark Schlereth, Bill Musgrave, Ray Crockett, Reggie McElroy, Alfred Williams, Tory James, John Mobley, Allen Aldridge, Mike Sherrard, Trevor Pryce, Walter Bubby Brister, Neil Smith, Willie Flipper Anderson, Tim McKyer, Willie Green, David Diaz-Infante, Tony Jones, Brian Griese, Seth Joyner, Detron Smith, Marvin Washington, Trevor Pryce, Neal Dahlen, Al Wilson, Desmond Clark, Chris Miller, Olandis Gary, Dale Carter, Ian Gold, Deltha O'Neal, Mike Anderson, Gus Frerotte, Jimmy Spencer, Terrell Buckley, Ray Rhodes, Frank Bush, Leon Lett, Tony Carter, Lee Woodall, Chester McGlockton, Bertrand Berry, Trey Teague, Clinton Portis, Steve Beuerlein, Matt Lepsis, Dan Neil, Tyrone Poole, Mike Leach, Blake Brockermeyer, Ephraim Salaam, Jake Plummer, Jarious Jackson, Danny Kanell, Tatum Bell, Cornell Green, Luther Elliss, Micah Knorr, Marco Coleman, Chris Myers, Ron Dayne, Stephen Alexander, Gerard Warren, Todd Sauerbrun, Courtney Brown, D.J. Williams, Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall, Elvis Dumervil, Ebenezer Ekuban, Erik Pears, Patrick Ramsey, Dré Bly, Daniel Graham, Brandon Stokley, Travis Henry, Sam Adams, Ryan Clady, Javon Walker, Brian Xanders, Josh McDaniels, Kyle Orton, Chris Simms, LaMont Jordan, Brandon Lloyd, Jabar Gaffney, Correll Buckhalter, Casey Wiegmann, Vonnie Holliday, Matt Prater, Mitch Berger, Renaldo Hill, Eric Studesville, Tim Tebow, Demaryius Thomas, Brady Quinn, Eddie Royal, Jamal Williams, Chris Clark, Laurence Maroney, Britton Colquitt, Stephen Hauschka, Wesley Woodyard,  Von Miller,  Willis McGahee, Zane Beadles, André Goodman, Caleb Hanie, Jack Del Rio, Julius Thomas, Keith Brooking, Orlando Franklin, Chris Harris Jr., Mike Adams, Dan Koppen, Eric Decker, Knowshon Moreno, Louis Vasquez, Wes Welker, Shaun Phillips, Quentin Jammer, Malik Jackson, Michael Huff, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Aqib Talib, C. J. Anderson, DeMarcus Ware, Emmanuel Sanders, T. J. Ward, Evan Mathis, Matt Paradis, Antonio Smith, Shaquil Barrett, Joe DeCamillis, Darian Stewart, Trevor Siemian, Justin Forsett, Vance Joseph, Brock Osweiler, Jamaal Charles, Casey Kreiter, Bradley Chubb, Case Keenum and Phillip Lindsay.