Denver Broncos Owner's Daughter: Takeover Bid Rebuffed

DENVER, CO -- Family members of the Pat Bowlan clan are weighing in after members of the trust that controls the Denver Broncos football team firmly rejected a proposal to take the helm of the NFL franchise by Alzheimer-stricken team owner Pat Bowlen's daughter, Beth Bowlen Wallace.

Bowlan Wallace did not release a copy of the proposal, but she did respond to the trust's rebuff.

“I have met the criteria for becoming Controlling Owner of the Broncos. I have earned my law degree at the University of Denver and I have served at the Broncos and in executive leadership with Reign Energy Partners and Joseph Energy," she said in a statement.

A spokesman also released statements from two uncles, brothers of her father Pat Bowlan.
John Bowlan and his wife Kerry showed support for Bowlen Wallace in a statement:

We fully support Beth Bowlen Wallace to become the controlling owner of the Denver Broncos. Beth has worked extremely hard to meet the criteria established for the children of Pat Bowlen to be qualified to run and manage the organization. As minority owners of the team, we would be proud and thrilled to have her as the leader of this franchise. There is strong support as well from fans who favor her bid for controlling ownership. Pat Bowlen’s wish and his legacy was to have one of his children run this team. That is what he always wanted. Beth is the best positioned of all the children to take over now. Her plan is just right--to take over as managing owner now and in the future allow the other children to mature, learn and grow into the position, keeping this team in her family and in Denver, where the Broncos belong.

John and Kerry Bowlan sold a portion of their minority holdings in the team last month.

Pat's brother Bill Bowlan also supported the scheme:

“As Pat’s brother, I fully support my niece’s bid to become the controlling owner of the Denver Broncos. She is fully capable and qualified to run and manage the Broncos as she has met all the requirements established to lead the team," he said.

The three-member Pat Bowlan Trust, made up of non family members, firmly rejected any idea of Beth's taking over the company.

"We have determined that [Bowlen Wallace] is not capable or qualified at this time," a statement from the trio said earlier this week.

The statement also hinted that Bowlen Wallace left her employment with the team under some kind of cloud.

" [Bowlen Wallace] is ... fully informed as to why her employment with the team ended in 2015," the statement said. Trust members characterized her interest in the team as "dictated by the short-term or personal interests of [an] individual."

Bowlen Wallace, 47, is the second-oldest of seven children, and insists that her father desired to keep the team in the family.

"Before he became ill with Alzheimer's, Pat had said many times that he wanted his family to keep ownership of the Broncos, that he wanted one of his seven children to run the team when they were ready, and that he wanted the team to remain in Denver," she said in a press release.

Bowlen Wallace said she submitted her plan to take ownership to the trust that includes "Beth taking over as the Controlling Owner after a short transition and mentoring period with current leadership." The proposal also includes "long-term succession planning that involves other Bowlen children and a succession plan beyond Beth."

Another family member, older sister, Amie Bowlen Klemmer, said she supported Beth's proposal.

"Along with continuing the winning tradition of my father, the focus is to keep this team in my family and keep the Broncos in Denver," she said in a statement.

Pat Bowlan, a successful lawyer and businessman-turned-franchise owner was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease and stepped down in 2014.

Bowlan Wallace worked for the Broncos organization between 2011 and 2015 serving as director of special projects. Her work "oversaw initiatives such as the Ring of Fame Plaza and the placement of a statue of her father, in addition to handling community affairs," she said. She received her law degree from Denver's Sturm College of Law in 2016.

The trust trio that controls the management of the team are Denver Broncos President Joe Ellis, Rich Slivka, team general counsel and executive vice president and attorney Mary Kelly.

“As a trustee and someone Pat designated to oversee his team, I have an enormous responsibility to carefully administer his succession plan and make decisions in the best interests of the Broncos," Ellis said in a public statement. "We will continue to follow Pat’s blueprint—and nobody else’s—while keeping our focus as an organization on having a successful season.”

STATEMENT FROM THE PAT BOWLEN TRUST

Members: President Joe Ellis, team General Counsel and Executive Vice President Rich Slivka and attorney Mary Kelly.

“The statements issued by Beth Bowlen Wallace today are contrary to Pat Bowlen’s long-standing succession plan that he created over many years of careful consideration.

“Pat was determined to ensure the Broncos would remain a premier franchise in the National Football League in the event of his absence. He chose to sustain the team’s success in that eventuality by appointing three non-family trustees to determine whether any of his children had become qualified at some point to step into his shoes.

“Pat did not designate Beth as a trustee or appoint her to a leadership position, nor did he instruct the trustees to specifically mentor her. He made it clear that his children were not automatically entitled to a role with the team and that they would have to earn that opportunity through their accomplishments, qualifications and character.

“As trustees honoring the clear wishes of Pat, we have thoroughly evaluated whether Beth is capable of succeeding her father as controlling owner. We have determined that she is not capable or qualified at this time.

“We have communicated our decision to Beth and her lawyers on multiple occasions. She is also fully informed as to why her employment with the team ended in 2015.

“Although Beth has declined our invitations to discuss her qualifications for the last two years, we will continue to proactively engage and meet with any of the Bowlen children who express a desire to earn the right to succeed their father.

“As trustees, we will continue to honor Pat’s long-standing plan to determine the Broncos’ future ownership and any potential appointment of his children to leadership positions within the organization. Our decisions will always be guided by what will ensure the long-term success and stability of the Broncos while also doing what’s best for our community, our fans and the NFL.

“Consistent with Pat’s long-standing succession plan, our decisions are not to be dictated by the short-term or personal interests of any individual. We will vigorously defend Pat’s plan in responding to these and any statements that are contrary to Pat’s words and intentions.”

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