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{{Short description|American businessman}}
{{Short description|American businessman (born 1928)}}

{{Draft topics|biography|north-america}}
{{AfC topic|blp}}
{{AfC submission|||ts=20220904163804|u=Rob940|ns=2}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Charles Bidwill, Jr.
| name = Charles W. Bidwill Jr.
| image =
| image =
| image_upright =
| image_upright =
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| birth_name =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1928|06|09|mf=y}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1928|06|09|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Chicago, Illinois, U.S.]]
| birth_place = [[Chicago, Illinois]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| death_cause =
| alma_mater = [[Georgetown University]]
| alma_mater = [[Georgetown University]]
| occupation = Businessman
| occupation = Businessman
|known_for = Co-Owner of [[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]]<br>President of [[Chicago Motor Speedway|Sportsman’s Park]]
| known_for = Co-Owner of [[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]]<br>President of [[Chicago Motor Speedway|Sportsman’s Park]]
| years_active = 1962 - Present
| years_active = 1962 - Present
| boards =
| boards =
|children = 5
| children = 5
| parents = [[Charles Bidwill]]<br>[[Violet Bidwill Wolfner|Violet Bidwill]]
| parents = [[Charles Bidwill]]<br>[[Violet Bidwill Wolfner|Violet Bidwill]]
| awards =
| awards =
| signature_size =
| signature_size =
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}}
}}


'''Charles “Stormy” Bidwill, Jr.''' (born on June 9, 1928) in [[Chicago, Illinois]] is an American businessman and was the owner of the now defunct [[Chicago Motor Speedway|Sportsman’s Park]] horse track in [[Cicero, Illinois]] from 1967-1995. He also was the co-owner of the [[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]] with his brother [[Bill Bidwill]] from 1962-1972.
'''Charles W. "Stormy" Bidwill Jr.''' (born June 9, 1928) is an American businessman who was the president of the now defunct [[Chicago Motor Speedway|Sportsman’s Park]] horse track in [[Cicero, Illinois]] from 1967 to 1995 and co-owner of the [[National Football League]]'s [[Chicago Cardinals|Chicago]] and [[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]] franchise with his younger brother, [[Bill Bidwill]], from 1962 to 1972.


==Biography==
==Early Life and Education==
===Early life and education===
Charles Jr. and his younger brother Bill were adopted by [[Charles Bidwill|Charles]] and [[Violet Bidwill]] owners of the then-[[Chicago Cardinals]]. Bidwill attended [[Georgetown University]] where he obtained a law degree. He was given the nickname “Stormy” when he was one year old after an uncle observed him having a temper tantrum.<ref name="Stormy Bidwill">{{cite web |last1=Broeg |first1=Bob |title=Sports Comment |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/141761011/ |website=Newspaper.com |publisher=St. Louis Post Dispatch |access-date=31 August 2022 |page=4C}}</ref>
Charles Jr. and his younger brother Bill were adopted by [[Charles Bidwill|Charles]] and [[Violet Bidwill]], the owners of the then-[[Chicago Cardinals]]. Bidwill attended [[Georgetown University]] where he obtained a law degree. He was given the nickname “Stormy” when he was one year old after an uncle<ref>According to the Chicago Cardinals media guide, it was his father who bestowed the nickname. See: Eddie McGuire (ed.), Chicago Cardinals: 1951 Press, Radio and Television Guide. Chicago: Chicago Cardinals Football Club, 1951; p. 4.</ref> observed him having a temper tantrum.<ref name="Stormy Bidwill">{{cite news|last1=Broeg |first1=Bob |title=Sports Comment |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111925039/st-louis-post-dispatch/ |via=newspapers.com |newspaper=St. Louis Post Dispatch |access-date=24 October 2022 |page=4C |date=August 31, 1962}}</ref>


==Football and Horse Racing==
===Football and horse racing===
Prior to the 1960 season, Violet Bidwill moved the Cardinals to [[St. Louis, Missouri]] and Charles Jr. and Bill inherited the team after their mother’s sudden death in 1962. In addition to the football team, the brothers inherited other business interests including Sportsman’s Park. Charles Jr. was named president of Sportsman's Park in 1967 and remained in Chicago to run the horse track while his brother Bill lived in St. Louis and essentially ran the football team. Over the years, their relationship became strained and in 1972, Charles Jr. sold his share of the team to Bill for $6,500,000.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Meyers |first1=Jeff |title=Stormy to Sell Big Red Share to Brother Bill |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/139433316 |website=Newspaper.com |publisher=St. Louis Post Dispatch |access-date=31 August 2022 |pages=8B}}</ref>
Prior to the 1960 season, Violet Bidwill moved the Cardinals to [[St. Louis, Missouri]], and Charles Jr. and Bill inherited the team after their mother’s sudden death in 1962. In addition to the football team, the brothers inherited other business interests, including Sportsman’s Park. Charles Jr. was named president of Sportsman's Park in 1967 and remained in Chicago to run the horse track while his brother Bill lived in St. Louis and essentially ran the football team.


Over the years, the relationship between the Bidwell brothers became strained, resulting in Stormy selling his share of the Cardinals to Bill for $6,500,000 in 1972.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Meyers |first1=Jeff |title=Stormy to Sell Big Red Share to Brother Bill |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111925204/st-louis-post-dispatch/ |via=newspapers.com |newspaper=St. Louis Post Dispatch |access-date=24 October 2022 |pages=8B|date=September 3, 1972}}</ref>
==Other Business Interests==


===Other business interests===
Along with Sportsman’s Park, Bidwill owned a beer distributorship and had financial interests in four Florida dog tracks. For many years, he was the largest stockholder in [[Churchill Downs]] and a member of its Board of Directors.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kogan |first1=Rick |title=Thoroughbreds: The little-known Bidwills of Sportsman's Park are the true stretch runners of Chicago sports families |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/legacy/418098485/ |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Chicago Tribune |access-date=31 August 2022}}</ref>

Along with Sportsman’s Park, Bidwill owned a beer distributorship and had financial interests in four Florida dog tracks. For many years, he was the largest stockholder in [[Churchill Downs]] and a member of its board of directors.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kogan |first1=Rick |title=Thoroughbreds: The little-known Bidwills of Sportsman's Park are the true stretch runners of Chicago sports families |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36126175/charles-bidwill/ |via=newspapers.com |newspaper=The Chicago Tribune |access-date=24 October 2022|date=April 29, 1993}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=It's Only Money|last1=McEwen|first1=Tom|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-10-24|newspaper=Tampa Tribune|date=September 19, 1964|page=1-C|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111926135/the-tampa-tribune/}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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{{Arizona Cardinals owner navbox}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bidwell, Charles}}
[[Category:1928 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals (football) owners]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Chicago]]
[[Category:Georgetown University Law Center alumni]]
[[Category:Bidwill family]]
[[Category:American adoptees]]

Latest revision as of 20:45, 27 November 2024

Charles W. Bidwill Jr.
Born (1928-06-09) June 9, 1928 (age 96)
Alma materGeorgetown University
OccupationBusinessman
Years active1962 - Present
Known forCo-Owner of St. Louis Cardinals
President of Sportsman’s Park
Children5
Parent(s)Charles Bidwill
Violet Bidwill

Charles W. "Stormy" Bidwill Jr. (born June 9, 1928) is an American businessman who was the president of the now defunct Sportsman’s Park horse track in Cicero, Illinois from 1967 to 1995 and co-owner of the National Football League's Chicago and St. Louis Cardinals franchise with his younger brother, Bill Bidwill, from 1962 to 1972.

Biography

[edit]

Early life and education

[edit]

Charles Jr. and his younger brother Bill were adopted by Charles and Violet Bidwill, the owners of the then-Chicago Cardinals. Bidwill attended Georgetown University where he obtained a law degree. He was given the nickname “Stormy” when he was one year old after an uncle[1] observed him having a temper tantrum.[2]

Football and horse racing

[edit]

Prior to the 1960 season, Violet Bidwill moved the Cardinals to St. Louis, Missouri, and Charles Jr. and Bill inherited the team after their mother’s sudden death in 1962. In addition to the football team, the brothers inherited other business interests, including Sportsman’s Park. Charles Jr. was named president of Sportsman's Park in 1967 and remained in Chicago to run the horse track while his brother Bill lived in St. Louis and essentially ran the football team.

Over the years, the relationship between the Bidwell brothers became strained, resulting in Stormy selling his share of the Cardinals to Bill for $6,500,000 in 1972.[3]

Other business interests

[edit]

Along with Sportsman’s Park, Bidwill owned a beer distributorship and had financial interests in four Florida dog tracks. For many years, he was the largest stockholder in Churchill Downs and a member of its board of directors.[4][5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ According to the Chicago Cardinals media guide, it was his father who bestowed the nickname. See: Eddie McGuire (ed.), Chicago Cardinals: 1951 Press, Radio and Television Guide. Chicago: Chicago Cardinals Football Club, 1951; p. 4.
  2. ^ Broeg, Bob (August 31, 1962). "Sports Comment". St. Louis Post Dispatch. p. 4C. Retrieved October 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Meyers, Jeff (September 3, 1972). "Stormy to Sell Big Red Share to Brother Bill". St. Louis Post Dispatch. pp. 8B. Retrieved October 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Kogan, Rick (April 29, 1993). "Thoroughbreds: The little-known Bidwills of Sportsman's Park are the true stretch runners of Chicago sports families". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ McEwen, Tom (September 19, 1964). "It's Only Money". Tampa Tribune. p. 1-C. Retrieved October 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.