Panthers founder Jerry Richardson passes away at 86

[PanthersATL]

One memory of JR:  tailgating at one of the Clemson home games, and Jerry is being driving around in a golf cart.

Everywhere he went were echoes of "Thank you, Mr Richardson".   
His reply was always the same:  "No, thank YOU for your support"

[Mr. Scot]

 

[djp14]

I remember when JR announced he was going try to bring the NFL to Charlotte.  We had just been awarded an NBA franchise.  I remember thinking, "Settle down dude, it's a miracle that we got an NBA team".

R.I.P.

[kingtarheel]

To honor the Big Cat,there is one thing we must do. Wear Blue Jeans tomorrow. It’s what we would’ve wanted.

Thank you for the NFl….R.I.p!

[raleigh-panther]

I ran into him several times at the stadium, by accident 

Each time, he could not have been nicer…big smile 

once I was at the 300 level upstairs and he and his golf cart driver (yes he used the golf cart up there)stopped and talked to me and my friend who was a Bears fan   

I don’t know what happened to him…maybe he has always had pervy workplace issues…maybe he had starting dementia…heart transplant…or any transplant requires a lot of medication maybe that affected him 

Who knows the cause.  Feel bad for people he mistreated 

[TheWiz]

The greater your accomplishments the more known your shortcomings will be. 

RIP Big Cat. Thanks for giving us something to call our own. #KeepPounding

[Panthera onca]

I saw him at the barbershop quite frequently through the years. He was always nice and polite, but kind of awkward. He was super nice to my young kids because they always wore Panthers gear.

[Wolfcop]

Thank you for bringing an NFL franchise to NC, Mr. Tepper. That announcement was one of the top sports moments of my life so far.   

[t96]

He was a somewhat bad owner, possibly (likely?) a bad person but could've been much worse though and he did bring a team to the Carolinas. RIP Big Cat

[Mr. Scot]

 

[Mr Mojo Risin]

RIP Big Cat

[SCO96]

2 hours ago, NanuqoftheNorth said:

Would have liked to have seen JR live long enough to witness the Carolina Panthers win a Super Bowl.

RIP JR

...or back to back winning seasons

It's ironic that shortly after we hire our first offensive minded HC, Mr. Richardson dies the following month. I had the opportunity to meet him once in Spartanburg at the Marriot Hotel. Pleasant Encounter. Condolences to the family.

[onmyown]

2 hours ago, TLGPanthersFan said:

Without him we wouldn’t have the Panthers. Despite how badly it ended I am thankful to him for that. 

That’s literally like saying if Tepper didn’t buy the Panthers we wouldn’t have an owner. It’s not true at all.

If we didn’t have a tax payers, PSL owners, and demand…we would not have the Panthers. People should really give the city/PSL owners credit for funding this team far more than the investors ever have including (in fact due to) JR.

[Davidson Deac II]

1 hour ago, raleigh-panther said:

I ran into him several times at the stadium, by accident 

Each time, he could not have been nicer…big smile 

once I was at the 300 level upstairs and he and his golf cart driver (yes he used the golf cart up there)stopped and talked to me and my friend who was a Bears fan   

I don’t know what happened to him…maybe he has always had pervy workplace issues…maybe he had starting dementia…heart transplant…or any transplant requires a lot of medication maybe that affected him 

Who knows the cause.  Feel bad for people he mistreated 

I have often wondered about this irt his actions.  As my stepfather got older, he became harsher, used worse language, and was harsher with people, especially my mom.  Aging and the various medications that old people have to take affect each of them in different ways.  Would be interesting to find out if he acted that way when he was younger or got worse as he got older.  

Regardless, while he had to go, he helped bring football to the Carolinas, and provided me with some great memories watching the team.  RIP.

Edited March 2, 2023 by Davidson Deac II