Detroit Lions Owner Passes Away

Detroit Lions owner, William Clay Ford, grandson of Henry Ford died this morning at the age of 88.  He has been the head of the organization for the past 50 years ever since he bought it off in 1963 for $4.5 million.  According to Forbes Magazine the franchise was worth about $900 million in August.  Ford was known to be extremely loyal to the people he put in charge of the team.

There has been some speculation about who would be his successor.  He is survived by his wife and four children who have all made the franchise a part of their lives too however Bill Ford Jr. was the only one is the team's vice chairman since 1995 and the only one with an official role.

The NFL has a history of keeping the teams within families.  In 1983 when George Halas died, his daughter kept control of the team.  Last year when Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams died, each of his three children received a 1/3 of the team.  It is expected that the the Lions will also stay in the Ford family however as of know they are not saying anything about it.