Emotional Joe Ellis announces Pat Bowlen's Denver Broncos Ring of Fame induction

“It is a great day for the Denver Broncos. No one is more deserving of being in our Ring of Fame than Pat Bowlen.”

Those were the opening words of Denver Broncos president, chairman and CEO Joe Ellis as he announced that Broncos owner Pat Bowlen would be inducted into the Denver Broncos ring of fame. Ellis has worked closely with Pat Bowlen since Bowlen bought the team back in 1984, so it was fitting he was the one to make the announcement.

Ellis informed Mr. B himself this morning when the executive board named Bowlen the latest inductee.

Bowlen when he was told he was being inducted smiled and said “why the hell would you do that?” pic.twitter.com/zI6bh3FCug

— BSNDenver.com (@BSNDenver) May 13, 2015

Ellis became emotional when he started talking about the legacy of Pat Bowlen and his battle with Alzheimer’s. “It’s not the same without him here. It’s unfair, the disease is so wicked to anyone who has it. I just wish he was here, he deserves to be here.” Ellis added it is too early to tell if Mr. Bowlen will be able to attend the induction ceremony but he thinks there will be a visit of some type that weekend.

As for the future of the organization, they are going to continue they way they have since Bowlen removed himself as CEO last summer, but the hope remains that one of his children will eventually take over and run the Broncos.

The Broncos will induct Bowlen as the 28th member of its Ring of Fame on November 1st, when the Broncos play host to the team Bowlen won his first championship against in 1998, the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football.