Jerry Richardson



Jerry Richardson (born July 11, 1936 in Spring Hope, North Carolina) is the current majority owner and founder of the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League.

Biography
Jerry Richardson is a native Carolinian whose dream was to bring NFL football and the world championship he knew as a player in the League to his home. With the Panthers in their second decade, Richardson has firmly established the NFL into the Carolina landscape while dedicating his efforts to making the rest of his vision a reality. On October 26, 1993, Richardson became the first former NFL player since George Halas to become an owner when the Carolinas were unanimously awarded the NFL's 29th franchise. A lifelong resident of the Carolinas, Richardson and his wife, Rosalind Sallenger Richardson, have two sons, Jon and Mark, and a daughter, Ashley Richardson Allen, of Charlotte. The Richardsons have nine grandchildren and live in Charlotte. Richardson remains an active owner of the team, but generally has allowed his front office staff and coaches to make all decisions regarding player personnel and game strategy. He has always supported the Panthers in good and bad times, having never missed a Carolina home game until he was hospitalized before a December 8, 2008 Monday Night Football matchup against division rivals Tampa Bay. His connection with the team has led to the nickname "Big Cat".

Personal life
Richardson was hospitalized in Charlotte at Carolinas Medical Center in early December 2008, one month after receiving a pacemaker. Richardson, who had a history of heart trouble and had undergone quadruple bypass surgery in 2002, was placed on a donor waiting list for a new heart two days later. He received a new heart on February 1, 2009 and his doctors report that he is recovering well from the transplant. He also opened the first Hardee's franchise in 1961 under Spartan Foods. He was later CEO of Flagstar, controlling 2,500 restaurants and 100,000 employees and retired in 1995.