Bill Text: NY J02204 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Commending the Buffalo Bills upon the occasion of celebrating its 60th Anniversary as a professional football team

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2020-01-14 - ADOPTED [J02204 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J02204-Introduced.html

Senate Resolution No. 2204

BY: Senator KENNEDY

        COMMENDING  the Buffalo Bills upon the occasion of
        celebrating its 60th Anniversary as  a  professional
        football team

  WHEREAS,  It is the sense of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
exemplary teams and organizations whose notable achievements add to  the
fabric of New York State and inspire our citizenry; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to such concern, this Legislative Body is proud
to commend the Buffalo Bills upon the occasion of celebrating  its  60th
Anniversary as a professional football team; and

  WHEREAS,  The  Buffalo Bills were the seventh team to be admitted to
the American Football League, and one of the eight founding  members  of
the league; and

  WHEREAS,  The  franchise  was  awarded  to  legendary owner Ralph C.
Wilson on October 28, 1959, originally playing games at the War Memorial
Stadium in Buffalo, New York; and

  WHEREAS, After a public contest, the team adopted the name  "Buffalo
Bills,"  after  the  former  All-American  Football  Conference  team in
Buffalo, which in turn was  named  after  the  Buffalo  Bills,  a  local
barbershop quartet; and

  WHEREAS, In 1962, the team won its first AFL Championship behind the
MVP  performance of running back Cookie Gilchrist; this championship was
followed up with another one the next year,  capping  a  schedule  where
they won 12 of their 14 games; and

  WHEREAS,  In 1970, the AFL and NFL merged, making the Bills a member
of the new league; three years later, the Bills began playing their home
games at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, which was renamed Ralph
Wilson Stadium after their owner in 1998;  and  since  2015,  they  have
occupied New Era Field in the same location; and

  WHEREAS,  In  1986,  two  future Hall of Famers, coach Marv Levy and
quarterback Jim Kelly joined the organization; two years later in  1988,
the team won the first of five AFC East titles in six years; and

  WHEREAS,  The Bills are the only team to play in four straight Super
Bowls, spanning from 1991-1994; during  that  time,  numerous  legendary
players and coaches were a vital part of the organization; and

  WHEREAS,  In  2014,  the  franchise  was  purchased by Terry and Kim
Pegula, only the second owners in  the  history  of  the  franchise  and
together, they have vowed to keep the team in Western New York; and

  WHEREAS, The Bills have a passionate and energetic fan base known as
the  "Bills  Mafia",  who are counted on to cheer for their beloved team
every week during the season; so much so that in 1991, the loyal fans of
the Bills helped set a NFL single-season attendance  record  of  635,889
fans; and


  WHEREAS,  The Buffalo Bills also serve the community through various
charitable foundations, helping the less  fortunate  throughout  Western
New York and New York State; and

  WHEREAS,  This auspicious occasion presents a unique opportunity for
this Legislative Body to pay tribute to the  endless  contributions  the
Buffalo  Bills  have  presented  Western New York and the greater Empire
State as a whole; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
commend  the  Buffalo  Bills  upon  the occasion of celebrating its 60th
Anniversary, noting their endless accomplishments both on  and  off  the
field  as  the  only  professional  football  team stationed in New York
State; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That copies of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to the players and personnel as well as the Co-Owners of the
Buffalo Bills, Terry and Kim Pegula.
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