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Former Denver Broncos owner Edgar Kaiser has died, reports the Vancouver Sun. The 69-year-old businessman died on Wednesday, Jan. 11.
Kaiser bought the Broncos in 1981 from the Phipps family, but just three years later he sold 61 percent of the franchise to current owner Pat Bowlen. Kaiser later filed a lawsuit against Bowlen after John Elway was offered a share of ownership in the Broncos. While Kaiser won the first round of decisions, an appeal by Bowlen saw the decision overturned and later affirmed by the state's Court of Appeals.
Kaiser was heavily involved in British Columbia business initiatives and eventually became a Canadian citizen. As the Vancouver Sun notes:
He established the Kaiser Foundation in 1986 after a close family friend came to him for help to treat an addiction, only to find few resources available. He was named to the Order of B.C. in 2003 for his extensive community sup-port in areas of health, sports, arts and education.
He is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren.
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