Pat Bowlen is a well-known businessman from the popular Bowlen family – majority owners of the Denver Broncos. The Denver Broncos, founded by Edgar Kaiser in 1959 as an American Football League club, were later purchased in 1984 by the Bowlen family for $78 million.
Pat was the franchise’s CEO from 1984 to 2014 when he had to step down following his battle with Alzheimer’s disease. During his thirty years as CEO, the Broncos recorded 307 wins with only five losing seasons, winning the AFC title twice and winning two Super Bowls.
What happened to the successful businessman, did he lose the battle with Alzheimer’s disease? Scroll to find answers.
the biography
Pat’s full name is Patrick Dennis Bowlen. This renowned businessman was born on February 18, 1944, in Prairie du Chien (Wisconsin), to Arvella and Paul Dennis Bowlen. His father was also a well-known businessman in the Canadian oil industry. The business is now managed by Pat’s brother, John.
Bowlen is an alumnus of Campion Jesuit Catholic High School and the University of Oklahoma where he earned degrees in business and law in 1965 and 1968 respectively. After graduating, Pat worked as a lawyer in Edmonton, Alberta (he owned his own law firm) before working as an executive in his father’s company and then as a real estate developer. He also invested heavily in the mining industry before embarking on the creation of his own company.
Denver Broncos Ownership, Other Businesses
He became CEO of the Denver Broncos after buying Edgar Kaiser, the original owner, in 1984 for $78 million. The franchise was in an ownership battle with the club’s former owner between 1999 and 2008.
In 1998, Bowlen resorted to selling a share of the team to John Elway (retired football legend) without Kaiser knowing. When he (Kaiser) found out, he sued Pat, accusing him of breach of contract, stating that he had every right to withhold any decision regarding franchise ownership.
In 2004, a federal court ruled in his favor, stating that Kaiser has the right to buy out 10% of the team using the terms of purchase offered to him. Bowlen opposed that decision, appealed, and won in 2008.
After Bowlen stepped down as CEO of the Denver Broncos, Joe Ellis, who is the team’s chief decision maker at the moment, took his place, piloting the team and representing the Broncos at NFL meetings.
Besides the Broncos, Pat Bowlen co-owns the Colorado Crush alongside sports mogul Stan Kroenke and retired football legend John Elway. The Denver sports megastar is also a co-owner of the professional throw lacrosse team – The Denver Outlaws.
Pat Bowlen has received numerous awards including Super Bowl Champion (three times), Broncos Ring of Fame (2015), Steinfeld Cup Champion (twice), ArenaBowl XIX Champion and Colorado Business Hall of Fame ( 2015).
For 19 years, he was Honorary Chairman of the Colorado Special Olympics and Honorary Chairman of the Stadium Stampede.
He was born a Catholic and is also a humanitarian. His charity group recently raised more than $1 million for Capuchin Catholic Ministries to the poor and homeless in Denver.
Is he dead?
No, Pat Bowlen is not dead. The Denver Broncos owner recently celebrated his 74th birthday.
Pat Bowlen’s family – wife, daughters and sons
Bowlen was married to Annabel Bowlen for together they have five children – two sons and three daughters, namely Patrick Bowlen III and John Bowlen Jr., Brittany, Annabel and Christiana.
Pat’s children were actively involved with the Denver Broncos. His eldest son Patrick (named after him) was and remains the team’s facilities manager.
His second son, John, was the former marketing staff who worked at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. He appears to have resigned from his position and is currently pursuing other projects. John was defensive at the University of San Diego but had to give up football due to an injury he suffered. He holds an MBA in Sports and Entertainment from the University of Denver.
Brittany worked as a business analyst in the team’s finance for ten months before leaving to pursue a master’s degree at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame. Annabel was a student at the University of Colorado at Denver. Not much is known about his youngest daughter, Christianna.
Pat has two other daughters (Jane Elizabeth “Beth” Bowlen Wallace and Amie Bowlen Klemmer) from his marriage to Sally Parker.
Prior to leaving to pursue law school at the University of Denver, Jane was the team’s Director of Special Projects and Events. His second daughter with Parker. Amie Bowlen Klemmer lives in Hawaii.