Founder of AFL and Denver Broncos
In 1959, Howsam founded the Denver Broncos – one of the eight charter members of the AFL – along with his brother, Earl, and father, Lee. (The Howsams and the seven other original owners called themselves the "Foolish Club" for daring to take on the established NFL.) The Howsams also built Bears Stadium, a minor league baseball park which, after renovation and expanded capacity, became famous as the Broncos' noisy, raucous and perpetually sold-out home from 1960 to 2001, Mile High Stadium.
The Broncos played in the AFL from 1960 to 1969 and then joined the NFL with completion of the NFL/AFL merger in 1970. Apart from a 7–7 season in 1962, the team suffered from poor results on the field, and the Howsam family sold the Broncos in 1964 to Gerald and Alan Phipps. But it was developing a loyal fan base, and since its first Super Bowl appearance in 1977, the Broncos have become one of the most successful operations in the NFL.
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