Bill Bidwill
Encyclopedia
William V. "Bill" Bidwill, Sr. (born July 31, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois) is the principal owner and chairman of the board of the Arizona Cardinals
of the National Football League
. He was part-owner from 1962 to 1972 with his brother Charles, Jr. and has been sole owner since 1972.
, then was in the U.S. Navy until 1956. He went to college at Georgetown University
. After his graduation, he moved to St. Louis a few months before the Cardinals moved there.
, owned the team from 1932, then known as the Chicago Cardinals, until his death in 1947. His mother, Violet
, authorized business partner Ray Bennigsen to carry on management of the team. Violet Bidwill married St. Louis businessman Walter Wolfner in 1949. In 1960, Violet moved the Cardinals to St. Louis. Bill and Charles inherited the team after their mother's death in 1962, and served as co-owners until Bill purchased it outright in 1972. Among NFL franchises, only the Chicago Bears
and New York Giants
have been controlled by one family longer than the Cardinals.
after the 1987 NFL season
after St. Louis refused to build a new stadium to replace Busch Memorial Stadium
. Bidwill had a reputation for running the Cardinals rather cheaply; the Cardinals had one of the lowest payrolls in the league for many years. In recent years, however, the Cardinals have begun to spend more since moving into the University of Phoenix Stadium
in 2006.
The increased revenue paid off in 2008, when the Cardinals won their division for the first time since 1975 (while they were still in St. Louis), hosted a playoff game for only the second time in franchise history (the last coming in 1947, while they were still in Chicago) and advanced to Super Bowl XLIII
. They won another division title in 2009.
In recent years, Bidwill has ceded most day-to-day control over the Cardinals to his sons Michael
and Bill, Jr., who serve as team president and vice president respectively.
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was part-owner from 1962 to 1972 with his brother Charles, Jr. and has been sole owner since 1972.
Education
Bidwill went to Georgetown Preparatory SchoolGeorgetown Preparatory School
Georgetown Preparatory School is an American Jesuit college preparatory school for grades 9 through 12. It is the oldest all boys school in the United States, and the only Jesuit boarding school in the country...
, then was in the U.S. Navy until 1956. He went to college at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
. After his graduation, he moved to St. Louis a few months before the Cardinals moved there.
Parents
His father, Charles BidwillCharles Bidwill
Charles W. Bidwill , sometimes known as Charley Bidwill, was an owner of the NFL's Chicago Cardinals. He owned the team for 14 seasons from 1933 until 1947. His interest in sports was demonstrated by his two aims in life: to win an NFL Championship and the Kentucky Derby...
, owned the team from 1932, then known as the Chicago Cardinals, until his death in 1947. His mother, Violet
Violet Bidwill Wolfner
Violet Bidwill Wolfner was owner of the Chicago/St. Louis Cardinals of the National Football League from 1947 to 1962. She inherited the team when her husband, longtime Cardinals owner Charles Bidwill, died before the 1947 season...
, authorized business partner Ray Bennigsen to carry on management of the team. Violet Bidwill married St. Louis businessman Walter Wolfner in 1949. In 1960, Violet moved the Cardinals to St. Louis. Bill and Charles inherited the team after their mother's death in 1962, and served as co-owners until Bill purchased it outright in 1972. Among NFL franchises, only the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
have been controlled by one family longer than the Cardinals.
As owner of the Cardinals
Bidwill's ownership has been marked by little success. In his 47 years as at least part-owner, the Cardinals have only made the playoffs five times. He moved the team to Phoenix, ArizonaPhoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
after the 1987 NFL season
1987 NFL season
The 1987 NFL season was the 68th regular season of the National Football League. A 24-day players' strike reduced the 16-game season to 15. The games that were scheduled for the third week of the season were canceled, but the games for weeks 4–6 were played with replacement players...
after St. Louis refused to build a new stadium to replace Busch Memorial Stadium
Busch Memorial Stadium
Busch Memorial Stadium, also known as Busch Stadium, was a multi-purpose sports facility in St. Louis, Missouri that operated from 1966 to 2005....
. Bidwill had a reputation for running the Cardinals rather cheaply; the Cardinals had one of the lowest payrolls in the league for many years. In recent years, however, the Cardinals have begun to spend more since moving into the University of Phoenix Stadium
University of Phoenix Stadium
University of Phoenix Stadium, opened August 1, 2006, is a multipurpose football stadium located in Glendale, Arizona. It is the home of the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League and the annual Fiesta Bowl...
in 2006.
The increased revenue paid off in 2008, when the Cardinals won their division for the first time since 1975 (while they were still in St. Louis), hosted a playoff game for only the second time in franchise history (the last coming in 1947, while they were still in Chicago) and advanced to Super Bowl XLIII
Super Bowl XLIII
Super Bowl XLIII was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Arizona Cardinals to decide the National Football League champion for the 2008 season. The game was played on February 1, 2009,...
. They won another division title in 2009.
In recent years, Bidwill has ceded most day-to-day control over the Cardinals to his sons Michael
Michael Bidwill
Michael Bidwill is a National Football League executive with the Arizona Cardinals. He is the son of franchise owner Bill Bidwill and the current President of the club.-Biography:...
and Bill, Jr., who serve as team president and vice president respectively.
Sources
- Biography on Arizona Cardinals web site
- http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/crdindex.htm
- http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2007-01-11/news/the-curse
- Team History on Pro Football Hall of Fame web site