Projo Pats Blog

With the New England Patriots celebrating their 50th season this year, team chairman and CEO Robert Kraft has inducted Billy Sullivan, the original owner of the franchise, into the Patriots Hall of Fame as a contributor.

"Billy Sullivan made professional football a reality in New England," said Kraft in a release. "We are celebrating the Patriots' 50th season and all of the wonderful memories we have as fans of the Patriots. Without Billy Sullivan, the Patriots would not exist. I hope this recognition will ensure that Patriots fans never forget his contributions."

On Nov. 16, 1959, William H. Sullivan, Jr. was awarded the eighth and final charter franchise of the American Football League. Sullivan, with nine other investors, sold non-voting public stock in the franchise to raise capital to help post the franchise fee of $25,000.

A public contest resulted in the team being named the Boston Patriots; a year after the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, the team moved to newly built Schaefer Stadium in Foxboro and was re-christened as the New England Patriots.

Sullivan owned the Patriots until 1988, when he sold the franchise to Victor Kiam; he died a decade later.

"I can speak for my entire family, in particular my mother Mary, in thanking the Kraft Family for this singular honor," said Patrick Sullivan, son of Billy Sullivan. "With the kick off of the Patriots' 50th anniversary season, to be associated with the great names in Patriots history, the great fans of the Patriots, and to have an honored spot in The Hall at Patriot Place is something that I know my father would be immensely proud of. The Hall pays tribute to the great Patriots, both past and present. The fans, who Dad regarded as the cornerstone of the franchise, are also honored. For my father to be remembered by this great franchise and these great fans in this great Hall of Patriot history is an honor that we will cherish forever."

Yesterday, the NFL announced that the Patriots, who hosted the AFL's first regular season game on Sept. 9, 1960 at Boston University Field, will be featured in the NFL's first "AFL Legacy Game" on the opening weekend of the 2009 season. On Sept. 14, 2009, the Patriots will host the Buffalo Bills on ESPN's nationally-televised Monday Night Football. It will be the first of three "AFL Legacy Games" that the Patriots will appear in this season, which will feature the Patriots' red and white "throwback" uniforms, replicating the uniforms worn by the 1963 team that claimed the franchise's first division title and competed in the franchise's first league championship game.

 Tags  Billy Sullivan Patriots Hall of Fame Robert Kraft

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