(Video from Zennie62 on YouTube. Photo courtesy of New York Post.)
Bill Bowlen, brother of Denver Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen, came to his nice Beth Bowlen Wallace’s defense in her quest to be controling owner of the NFL team, and after the managers of The Pat Bowlen Trust issued a statement that was by turns mean, sexist, and ill-considered. This is the response Bill Bowlen reportedly sent to The Athletic:
“As pat’s brother and a previous owner, I am thrilled that Beth wants to take over as the leadership of the franchise. I believe there is strong support for this with the fans and Denver as a whole.
I’m very surprised and disappointed in the statement that the Pat Bowlen Trust group has put out.
My brother’s wish was to have one of his children run the team. Beth is in the best position of all the children to take over now, and in the future allow the other children to mature and learn and grow into a position, keeping this team in the family, and in Denver, where it belongs.”
Here’s the Twitter tweet from account of Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic that posted the statement:
Statement from Bill Bowlen, Pat Bowlen's brother, to The Athletic: pic.twitter.com/5josfj0fsT
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) May 31, 2018
This was represents the latest person to come forward and say that Jane Elizabeth “Beth” Bowlen Wallace was ready to take charge of the NFL’s Denver Broncos. It flies in the face of the statement issued by the Pat Bowlen Trust, which has been reduce to “she’s not qualified” and reads, for the most part, this way…
“The statements issued by Beth Bowlen Wallace today are contrary to Pat Bowlen’s long-standing succession plan that he created over many years of careful consideration.
“Pat was determined to ensure the Broncos would remain a premier franchise in the National Football League in the event of his absence. He chose to sustain the team’s success in that eventuality by appointing three non-family trustees to determine whether any of his children had become qualified at some point to step into his shoes.
“Pat did not designate Beth as a trustee or appoint her to a leadership position, nor did he instruct the trustees to specifically mentor her. He made it clear that his children were not automatically entitled to a role with the team and that they would have to earn that opportunity through their accomplishments, qualifications and character.
“As trustees honoring the clear wishes of Pat, we have thoroughly evaluated whether Beth is capable of succeeding her father as controlling owner. We have determined that she is not capable or qualified at this time.
“We have communicated our decision to Beth and her lawyers on multiple occasions. She is also fully informed as to why her employment with the team ended in 2015.
“Although Beth has declined our invitations to discuss her qualifications for the last two years, we will continue to proactively engage and meet with any of the Bowlen children who express a desire to earn the right to succeed their father.”
This is the latest chapter in this on-going story. Read the first post about it with a click here, at Oakland News Now.
Stay tuned.