Ex-Bills QB Jack Kemp has passed away

by Ron From NM on May 3, 2009 8:33 AM EDT Comment 21 comments

Former Buffalo Bills quarterback and Vice Presidential nominee Jack Kemp passed away Saturday evening. He was 73 years old.

Kemp succumbed to cancer, a battle that became public back in January when his office confirmed that Kemp had been diagnosed with an advanced, unspecified form of the disease. He died in his Bethesda, MD home.

Buffalo's only two championships in franchise history - AFL crowns in 1964 and 1965 - came with Kemp at quarterback.

The Buffalo Rumblings community extends our heartfelt condolences to the Kemp family and the Buffalo Bills organization.

This FanPost was written by a registered user of Buffalo Rumblings. Its views do not necessarily reflect the views of Rumblings' editorial staff, but are just as valued as our own.

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Informed Response

I am in the news business and may have access to certain AP wires and CNN wires that the average person doesn’t have access to. Unfortunately, I CAN confirm reports that Jack Kemp has passed away, I got this off a CNN wire as well as an NBC wire, though I haven’t seen the story released anywhere officially yet. Sad week for the Bills family :-(

by Sportscaster on May 2, 2009 10:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

CNN now has it too

Very very sad. He was a great football player and a better man. Thoughts and prayers with his family.

John I.

by jri111 on May 2, 2009 11:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Kemp had been battling cancer. The news came out some time during the winter and was very vague so it didn’t get as much coverage as it could have. I don’t recall the type of cancer ever being made public.

by kaisertown on May 2, 2009 11:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I wasn’t alive when he was a Bill, and I do not even slightly agree with the political policies he represented, but he was one of the all-time great Bills and a champion for the WNY area. That’s enough for me to miss him.

James Casey, a One Man Band Man

by Hybrid1486 on May 2, 2009 11:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Even if you disagreed with pretty much everything he stood for politically you have to admit that he carried himself the way politicians (of whatever persuasion) should. He was a class act.

by Ron From NM on May 3, 2009 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agree 100%. Even if I didn’t agree with him, he was a class act all the way. He never attacked you for disagreeing with him like so many other politicians, and tha in and of itself earned my respect. He will be missed.

by CanadianBillsFan on May 3, 2009 2:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

A great person in every facet of the public eye...

He will be missed. Man was he a great steal for Buffalo back in that team’s heyday.

"It's not delivery, it's DiGiorgio!"

by TheAfghanTwilight on May 3, 2009 12:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Just saw this on tWWL, just sad. Class act, he’ll definitely be missed.

Penn Staters belong at Penn State. The problem with a lot of kids is they just don’t know they are Penn Staters yet. -jesse. @ BSD

by TheK-GunNeedsReloaded on May 3, 2009 12:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

RIP Mr Kemp.....thanks for your contributions to the country and to the Buffalo Bills

Godspeed Nick - RIP - 1986-2009

by norcaliangelsfan on May 3, 2009 4:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Rest in Peace

to the man who led the Buffalo Bills to their only two championships.

by Dyl on May 3, 2009 6:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

my prayers

to his friends and family. he was one of the good guys.

by ncfinfan on May 3, 2009 8:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well done Mr. Kemp. You made us all proud.

Thoughts and prayers go out to your family.

"Get ready for the pain women…the pain train is coming Whooo Whooooo !!!!!" – Terry Tate Office Linebacker

by Joe P. on May 3, 2009 9:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the re-write, Brian. When I put up my fanpost I was hoping that the only source I could find the story (foxnews.com) had it wrong.

by Ron From NM on May 3, 2009 11:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

God Bless the Kemp family

by billsstein on May 3, 2009 11:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Kemp

should be honored for his contributions to Buffalo and his country. Thoughts go out to his loved ones.

Guards Brad Butler and Brandon Rodd are decent. - Pete Prisco
Brandon Rodd!! Our best player.

by poz on May 3, 2009 11:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

picture

truly sad news I uploaded a cool picture of him in his prime:
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/8374/09000d5d80771845gallery.jpg

by pasaluki on May 3, 2009 4:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I just went ahead a posted it for you.

"Get ready for the pain women…the pain train is coming Whooo Whooooo !!!!!" – Terry Tate Office Linebacker

by Joe P. on May 3, 2009 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That is an awesome picture. Thank you for everything you did for the Bills and for this country.

by OnPointNow on May 3, 2009 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I had no idea that Kemp was that freakishly athletic! It looks like 88 is trying to see where Kemp is going to throw it thinking some variation of, “I can’t believe he’s actually getting this pass off.”

by Ron From NM on May 3, 2009 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Look at those eyes...

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on May 4, 2009 8:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

another tough loss

first russert and now kemp. in the past 12 months buffalo, and the country, have lost two class acts. Enthusiastic boosters of Buffalo and honest, thoughtful, hard working and even tempered observers of the political scene. Both will prove tough to replace.

by sestak on May 3, 2009 8:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs