Billy Sullivan (American football)
Encyclopedia
William Hallissey "Billy" Sullivan, Jr. (September 13, 1915 – February 23, 1998) was an American businessman who owned the Boston Patriots franchise from their inception in the American Football League
(AFL, 1960–1969) until their sale, as the New England Patriots of the NFL, to Victor Kiam
in 1988
.
in 1915 and graduated from Boston College
in 1937. The son of a Boston Globe correspondent, Sullivan himself became a sportswriter after college. He also served as a publicity director for Boston College, the University of Notre Dame
, and the Boston Braves
, putting out so many press releases that fellow sportwriter Red Smith
dubbed Sullivan the "Maître de Mimeograph
." Sullivan also served in the United States Navy
during this time.
in 1959. For $
25,000, he was awarded the league's eighth and final team for their inaugural 1960
season, the Boston Patriots. Sullivan gave his son Patrick Sullivan
the title of General Manager
for the team and another son Chuck Sullivan the title of Executive Vice President. In 1964, Sullivan helped the AFL negotiate a 5-year, $30 million television
agreement with broadcaster NBC
.
by successfully requesting an antitrust
exemption from the United States Congress
.
season, the Patriots' second in the post-merger NFL, Sullivan changed the team's name from the Boston Patriots to the New England Patriots to correspond with the team's move into Schaefer Stadium
in Foxborough, Massachusetts
. He was named majority owner of the team in 1975
. By 1988
, the Patriots had played 28 full seasons, 14 of them with winning records, and had appeared in 1 AFL Championship game and 1 Super Bowl
. In an attempt to avoid bankruptcy
, Sullivan asked the NFL if he could sell 50% of the team in a public offering. The NFL refused the request, and Sullivan sold the team to Victor Kiam
for $83 million the same year, with Sullivan remaining as the team's president until 1992
. However, the stadium lease entered into bankruptcy and was purchased by Robert Kraft
, who owned an option on adjacent land and would eventually own the Patriots.
In 1991, Sullivan filed a $116 million antitrust lawsuit against the NFL and accepted an $11.5 million settlement of the case in 1996.
, Sullivan died in his Atlantis, Florida
retirement home in 1998.
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
(AFL, 1960–1969) until their sale, as the New England Patriots of the NFL, to Victor Kiam
Victor Kiam
Victor K. Kiam was an American entrepreneur and the owner of the New England Patriots football team from 1988-1991....
in 1988
1988 New England Patriots season
The New England Patriots finished the National Football League's 1988 season with a record of nine wins and seven losses, and finished tied for second in the AFC East division.-Staff:-Schedule:-Roster:...
.
Early life
Sullivan was born in Lowell, MassachusettsLowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
in 1915 and graduated from Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
in 1937. The son of a Boston Globe correspondent, Sullivan himself became a sportswriter after college. He also served as a publicity director for Boston College, the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, and the Boston Braves
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, putting out so many press releases that fellow sportwriter Red Smith
Red Smith (sportswriter)
For other uses, see: Red Smith Walter Wellesley "Red" Smith was an American sportswriter who rose to become one of America's most widely read sports columnists.-Career:After graduating from Green Bay East High School, site of Packers home games until 1957, Smith moved on to...
dubbed Sullivan the "Maître de Mimeograph
Mimeograph machine
The stencil duplicator or mimeograph machine is a low-cost printing press that works by forcing ink through a stencil onto paper....
." Sullivan also served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during this time.
NFL franchise attempt
In 1959, Sullivan, by then involved in business ventures, requested a National Football League franchise in Boston. With Boston's five previous football franchises having folded or moved, the NFL later denied Sullivan's request.AFL franchise
Having not succeeded in starting an NFL franchise, Sullivan then turned to the new American Football LeagueAmerican Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
in 1959. For $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
25,000, he was awarded the league's eighth and final team for their inaugural 1960
1960 American Football League season
The 1960 American Football League season was the inaugural regular season of the American Football League.The season ended when the Houston Oilers defeated the Los Angeles Chargers in the inaugural AFL Championship game.-Division races:...
season, the Boston Patriots. Sullivan gave his son Patrick Sullivan
Patrick Sullivan (American football executive)
Patrick "Pat" Sullivan is a former American football executive who served as General Manager of the New England Patriots from 1983 to 1990.-Early life:The son of Patriots founder Billy Sullivan, Sullivan was a ballboy for the first Boston Patriots team....
the title of General Manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
for the team and another son Chuck Sullivan the title of Executive Vice President. In 1964, Sullivan helped the AFL negotiate a 5-year, $30 million television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
agreement with broadcaster NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
.
AFL-NFL merger
In 1970, Sullivan played a part in the AFL-NFL mergerAFL-NFL Merger
The AFL–NFL merger of 1970 was the merger of the two major professional American football leagues in the United States at the time: the National Football League and the American Football League...
by successfully requesting an antitrust
Antitrust
The United States antitrust law is a body of laws that prohibits anti-competitive behavior and unfair business practices. Antitrust laws are intended to encourage competition in the marketplace. These competition laws make illegal certain practices deemed to hurt businesses or consumers or both,...
exemption from the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
.
New England Patriots
For the 19711971 New England Patriots season
The New England Patriots finished the National Football League's 1971 season with a record of six wins and eight losses, and finished third in the AFC East division. It was the first season the Patriots played in Schaeffer Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts after playing in three different...
season, the Patriots' second in the post-merger NFL, Sullivan changed the team's name from the Boston Patriots to the New England Patriots to correspond with the team's move into Schaefer Stadium
Foxboro Stadium
Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts...
in Foxborough, Massachusetts
Foxborough, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 16,246 people, 6,141 households, and 4,396 families residing in the town. The population density was 809.1 people per square mile . There were 6,299 housing units at an average density of 313.7 per square mile...
. He was named majority owner of the team in 1975
1975 New England Patriots season
The New England Patriots finished the National Football League's 1975 season with a record of three wins and eleven losses, and finished tied for fourth in the AFC East division.-Staff:-Schedule:- Standings :-Roster:...
. By 1988
1988 New England Patriots season
The New England Patriots finished the National Football League's 1988 season with a record of nine wins and seven losses, and finished tied for second in the AFC East division.-Staff:-Schedule:-Roster:...
, the Patriots had played 28 full seasons, 14 of them with winning records, and had appeared in 1 AFL Championship game and 1 Super Bowl
Super Bowl XX
Super Bowl XX was an American football championship game played on January 26, 1986 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1985 regular season...
. In an attempt to avoid bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
, Sullivan asked the NFL if he could sell 50% of the team in a public offering. The NFL refused the request, and Sullivan sold the team to Victor Kiam
Victor Kiam
Victor K. Kiam was an American entrepreneur and the owner of the New England Patriots football team from 1988-1991....
for $83 million the same year, with Sullivan remaining as the team's president until 1992
1992 New England Patriots season
The New England Patriots finished the National Football League's 1992 season with a record of two wins and fourteen losses, and finished last in the AFC East division.-Staff:-Schedule:-Roster:...
. However, the stadium lease entered into bankruptcy and was purchased by Robert Kraft
Robert Kraft
Robert K. Kraft is an American business magnate. He is the Chairman and was the Chief Executive Officer of The Kraft Group, a diversified holding company with assets in paper and packaging, sports and entertainment, real estate development and a private equity portfolio...
, who owned an option on adjacent land and would eventually own the Patriots.
In 1991, Sullivan filed a $116 million antitrust lawsuit against the NFL and accepted an $11.5 million settlement of the case in 1996.
Class action lawsuit
After being ousted as President of the Patriots in 1974 (despite owning more than 20% of the voting stock), Sullivan sought to regain control over operations. By 1975, Sullivan had repurchased 100% of the voting stock. Once in control of the corporation, Sullivan removed all directors of whom he disapproved. Notably, however, in order to pay back the loans required to purchase the voting-stock (more than 5.3M), Sullivan agreed with lenders to assign income of the corporation and assets of the corporation over to the banks. In order to do this, however, Sullivan needed to eliminate the non-voting public shareholders. Sullivan was successful in structuring a deal that provided the non-voting public shareholders $15/share; this transaction was approved by the shareholder class. A dissenting shareholder (a long time Patriots fan) refused to tender his shares and filed suit. Eventually, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court found the merger/elimination of the minority shareholders as illegal and effected for Sullivan's personal benefit. Additionally, the Court found that Sullivan's actions constituted a waste of corporate assets. It was ordered that the shareholders be paid the value of the shares, not in 1975 dollars but as the value would have stood in 1986 (the time of the ruling).Death
After an 8-year battle with prostate cancerProstate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
, Sullivan died in his Atlantis, Florida
Atlantis, Florida
Atlantis is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,005 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city had a population of 2,142.-Geography:Atlantis is located at ....
retirement home in 1998.