Pat Bowlen

Patrick Dennis Bowlen (born February 18, 1944 in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin) is the Owner, President, and Chief Executive Officer of the Denver Broncos. He purchased the team from Edgar F. Kaiser, Jr in 1984 and saved the team from possible bankruptcy.

Pat's father, Paul D. Bowlen, became a millionaire in the Canadian oil business, founding Regent Oil as a wildcatter. Bowlen attended the University of Oklahoma and earned degrees in business (1965) and law (1968). The younger Bowlen became wealthy in his own right by becoming a successful lawyer in Edmonton, Alberta. He also worked as an executive for his father's company and as a real estate developer.

Bowlen is an initiated member of the Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity. He was initiated by the University of Oklahoma, Beta Omicron chapter in 1963. He is a member of the bar association and law society of Alberta, Canada. Bowlen is also one of the largest donors to the University of Denver.

Over the last several years, Bowlen and the Broncos have been involved in several legal battles against one-time owner Edgar Kaiser. In 2004, Bowlen agreed to sell retired football legend John Elway a ten percent share in the team. However, Kaiser sued, claiming a breach of contract. Kaiser asserted that he had a right of first refusal if any deal is made involving franchise ownership. Bowlen won in court, but Elway backed out after the high profile case. In 2006, a jury again ruled in favor of Bowlen's ownership after another challenge from Kaiser.

ource

*http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=357&contentID=113
*http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2004/12/20/daily24.html