The NFL world lost a true giant with the passing of Los Angeles Chargers owner Alex Spanos, who died Tuesday morning at the age of 95 following a decade-long bout with dementia.
Spanos’ place in the NFL started back in 1984 when he bought a majority share of the then San Diego Chargers for a cool $48.3 million. A family of Greek immigrants, it’s well known that Spanos’ path to fame and fortune was laid in hard work and dedication.
A man that gave a ton back to the community during his time as the Chargers’ owner, Spanos will be remembered for his altruistic ways. That’s how former United States President George W. Bush remembers his close friend.
Statement from President George W. Bush on the passing of Alex Spanos: pic.twitter.com/Nizdtfz13d
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 9, 2018
Long before Spanos had donated a whopping $5 million to Bush’s reelection campaign back in 2004, the two had built up a strong relationship with one another. It spans a time before Bush sat in the White House and includes both entrepreneurship and community involvement.
While the Chargers have fallen on hard times under the leadership of Spanos’ son, Dean, his father’s involvement in the organization ended long before what appears to have been an ill-fated move to Los Angeles. It’s in this that he should be remembered separately from all that drama.
Spanos leaves behind four sons, 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. His longtime wife, Faye, died at the age of 92 back in August.