ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Pat Bowlen, the Denver Broncos owner who transformed the team from also-rans into NFL champions and helped the league usher in billion-dollar television deals, died late Thursday night, just under two months before his enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was 75.

In a statement posted on the Broncos’ website, Bowlen’s family said he died peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones. They did not specify a cause of death. Bowlen had battled Alzheimer’s for several years.

Bowlen was the first owner in NFL history to oversee a team that won 300 games — including playoffs — in three decades. He had as many Super Bowl appearances (seven) as losing seasons, and Denver is 354-240-1 since he bought the club in 1984.

Under his stewardship, the Broncos won Super Bowls in 1998, ’99 and 2016.

Following their 31-24 victory over Green Bay for the franchise’s first championship, Bowlen famously hollered, “This one’s for John!” Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway called it the greatest moment of his playing career.

Elway the executive returned the favor on Feb. 7, 2016, when he jabbed the silver Lombardi Trophy into the sky after Denver’s 24-10 win over Carolina in Super Bowl 50 and declared, “This one’s for Pat.”

That came 18 months after Alzheimer’s forced Bowlen to step down from his daily duties running the team.

“I’m just glad I had the opportunity,” Elway told The Associated Press in the victorious locker room that night. “I didn’t want to think about it too much because I didn’t want to jinx anything. But I was waiting for the day that I was able to do that. So, I was glad and really thrilled that I was able to do that and we’ll take that trophy over to Pat next week and let him cherish it.”

Elway delivered the prize to Bowlen’s home back in Denver. And in the Mile High City, more than a million fans packed downtown for a victory parade 17 years after Elway capped his remarkable playing career by leading the Broncos to back-to-back titles.

Super Bowl 50 was the Broncos’ eighth trip to the big game, seven under Bowlen’s watch, and all of those with Elway’s help — first as his QB and then as his GM.

Bowlen’s wife, Annabel, who recently announced that she, too, is battling Alzheimer’s, and their children were on hand to accept the Lombardi Trophy on his behalf in Santa Clara, California.

“His soul will live on through the Broncos, the city of Denver and all of our fans,” Bowlen’s family said in their statement Thursday night. “Heaven got a little bit more orange and blue tonight.”

During his 35 seasons as owner, Bowlen’s teams compiled a .596 winning percentage — tied for second-best in the NFL during that span. Among professional franchises in the four major North American sports, only the San Antonio Spurs, New England Patriots and Los Angeles Lakers were better, according to the Broncos.

Bowlen relished working behind the scenes and shied away from the spotlight. In the words of former coach Mike Shanahan, “Pat just wanted to be one of the guys.”

“That’s why I think he was so beloved by so many people, including myself,” Shanahan said. “And you also knew that he would give anything to make your football team better or at least get a chance at the Super Bowl. At that time you would say every ounce that he had — I should say every penny he had — he wanted to go into giving the football team a Super Bowl. That was his No. 1 priority. That was it. It was not trying to buy different companies and trying to make more money. His goal was winning a Super Bowl.”

Former Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said: “Most guys would tell you that played for him or worked for him that he was not only our owner, but he was your friend.”

Bowlen served as a sounding board for NFL Commissioners Pete Rozelle, Paul Tagliabue and Roger Goodell. He was crucial to the league’s growth as a member of 15 NFL committees, including co-chairing the NFL Management Council and working on network TV contracts, including the league’s ground-breaking $18 billion deal in 1998.

“Pat was the driving force in establishing the championship culture of the Broncos. He was also an extraordinary leader at the league level during a key period,” Broncos President and CEO Joe Ellis said in a statement. “With the fans, Pat felt in many ways that his team belonged to them and approached things with that in mind. There will never be another owner like Pat Bowlen.”

Bowlen had a deep appreciation for his players, whether or not they were stars, and it’s not unusual to see ex-Broncos watching practice.

“When I retired, Mr. B. told me I was welcome anytime at team headquarters,” said Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe. “He said I didn’t need a pass, either: ‘Your face is your credential.'”

Ownership of the franchise is held in a trust Bowlen set up more than a decade ago in hopes one of his seven children will one day run the team. Until then, Ellis, one of three trustees, is doing so in a “What would Pat do?” sort of way.

Although daughter Brittany is hoping to one day take over the team, the succession plan and the trustees’ oversight of Bowlen’s estate has been challenged in state district court in the last year by some members of the Bowlen family.

Those who worked for Bowlen remember a man who put production ahead of profits; trained tirelessly for triathlons; fostered a winning atmosphere from the lobby to the locker room; and was always quick with a compliment and sure to couch his criticism.

“Pat Bowlen was the heart and soul of the Denver Broncos,” Ellis said. “Not only was Pat a Hall of Fame owner — he was a Hall of Fame person.”

Bowlen flashed his competitive streak whether on the road conducting league business, on the sideline watching his team or on the StairMaster drenched in sweat.

It was evident in his dislike for Peyton Manning when the quarterback played for Indianapolis before joining the Broncos in 2012.

“I get it, and I respect that,” Manning said, adding that Bowlen flew back to Denver from his offseason home in Hawaii to welcome him when he signed with the Broncos, and they were friends afterward.

“If there was a way for him to compete against what he’s going through,” former defensive end Alfred Williams said a couple of summers ago, “he’d beat that damn disease every time.”

Bowlen is survived by his wife, Annabel, and seven children: Amie, Beth, Patrick, Johnny, Brittany, Annabel and Christianna.

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OSKALOOSA, Kan. (AP) — A Baldwin City woman has pleaded guilty in the death of her mother’s boyfriend at a northeast Kansas lake.

Jefferson County Attorney Josh Ney announced Thursday that Ashlyn Hemmerling pleaded guilty to premeditated first-degree murder after prosecutors presented evidence in her trial in Jefferson County District Court.

She was charged in the March 2018 shooting death of 22-year-old Taylor Dean Sawyer in a remote area of Perry Lake.

Her boyfriend, 23-year-old Jonathan Blevins, was convicted in March of first-degree murder in Sawyer’s death. He was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 50 years.

Authorities said Sawyer was the boyfriend of Hermmerling’s mother, Sarah Hemmerling, who was charged with obstruction before that charge was dropped.

Hemmerling’s sentencing is scheduled for July 25.

TOPEKA —Stormont Vail Health has signed a 10-year partnership agreement with Spectra, the venue management company of the Kansas Expocentre in Topeka, Kansas, in which the arena will be renamed the Stormont Vail Events Center.

According to a media release from the hospital, the agreement, approved by the Shawnee County Commission, includes major exterior and interior signage, a Mothers Room, and brand recognition in all advertising for the facility. The arena’s website domain has changed to www.StormontVailEventsCenter.com, reflecting the arena’s new name. Stormont Vail has a long history in Topeka and a devotion to improving the health of the communities it serves. This partnership is an investment in the health and wellness of the community, both physically and economically.

“Our mission to improve the health of our community goes far beyond physical health,” said Robert Kenagy, M.D., president and chief executive officer for Stormont Vail Health. “Investing in our city and fostering local partnerships around improving the community’s overall health is vital. Both of our organizations have a long history in Topeka and we are looking forward to all the positive momentum partnering with Spectra will bring.”

Kellen Seitz, general manager of the Kansas Expocentre for Spectra, said, “Our management efforts to promote a positive and patron centric environment for our venue align perfectly with Stormont Vail Health. We couldn’t think of a better partner to advance and engage in community efforts than a true Topeka born and bred company. This naming rights partnership will continue to advance the venue forward in our industry and we are so proud to be aligned with such a great community leader in Stormont Vail Health.”

The multi-facility campus is undergoing a $48 million renovation projected to be completed by May 2021.

For a list of upcoming events, please visit www.StormontVailEventsCenter.com

RENO COUNTY — Authorities say the careless use of smoking materials is to blame for a fire in Reno County.

Just before 5a.m. Thursday, fire crews responded to 17 Maple Street in Hutchinson for a report of a structure fire. First arriving crews reported a working fire in a 1 ½ story duplex, according to Fire Chief Steve Beers.

Crews were able to contain the fire with an interior fire attack, but not before it did extensive damage to the kitchen area of the one of the duplexes.

Smoke and heat damage were also noted in the structure. Even though the building was reported vacant, fire crews searched the vacant building for individuals as citizens have been seen near and in the structure. No one was located inside the structure after a search was completed.

Crews were on scene for over two hours. No injuries were reported. At the time of the fire, no gas or electricity was provided to the home. Fire investigators have ruled the cause of this fire as careless use of smoking materials. These smoking materials then ignited some nearby clothing.

 

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas-based water park company has sold two of its attractions and given the buyer the right to acquire its Kansas site where a 10-year-old boy was killed nearly three years ago.

Schlitterbahn on Thursday announced the $261 million agreement with Cedar Fair Entertainment to sell a water park and resort in New Braunfels, Texas, and another property in Galveston, Texas. Sandusky, Ohio-based Cedar Fair will also have the right to buy the company’s Kansas water park for $6 million in cash.

The deal comes after Schlitterbahn remained mum on its plans for the Kansas City, Kansas, park where Caleb Schwab was decapitated in August of 2016 on the 17-story Verruckt slide.

Caleb’s family received nearly $20 million in settlements and two women who were seriously injured while riding with him settled for an undisclosed amount.

WESTCLIFFE, Colo. (AP) — Authorities say a Kansas teenager who died at a Colorado church camp likely had a blood clot that lodged in his lung.

Custer County Sheriff Shannon Byerly said in a news release that preliminary autopsy results indicate that 16-year-old Demarius Cox, of Hillsboro, Kansas, had a pulmonary embolism. Emergency crews rushed to the Sky Ranch Horn Creek summer camp Friday morning after receiving a report that the teen wasn’t breathing. The camp is in a rural area of the Rocky Mountains near Westcliffe, about 150 miles (241 kilometers) southwest of Denver.

Demarius had been visiting the camp as part of a Hillsboro church’s youth group. He had run track this year for his high school.

SHAWNEE COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery but are not getting cooperation from the victim.

Just after 7 p.m. Wednesday, police were called to the 1300 Block of SW Harrison in Topeka for a report of shots fired, according to Lt. Aaron Jones.

Officers made contact with several victims of an attempted aggravated robbery at a single apartment and located signs of a struggle and shooting which occurred within the apartment.  It was apparent that both a victim of the aggravated robbery and a suspect exchanged gunfire, according to Jones.

At 9:10 pm, officers were called to a local hospital to meet with a person suffering from a serious, but non-life threatening gunshot wound.  The person being treated for the injury, a 27-year-old male, gave vague information about how he was shot and there is not enough information available at this time to suggest the two incidents are related to each other, according to Jones.