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Jerry Richardson transitioned from an NFL player to a successful entrepreneur, ultimately founding and owning the Carolina Panthers.
Jerry Richardson used his 1959 NFL championship bonus to open the first Hardee's franchise in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with Charles Bradshaw, thereby co-founding Spartan Foods.
Jerry Richardson was the CEO of Flagstar, a food service company that ranked as the sixth largest in the United States, managing 2,500 restaurants and employing 100,000 individuals.
Jerry Richardson proposed the Carolina Panthers as the 29th NFL franchise in 1987, the first since 1976. He was the founder and owner of the Carolina Panthers from its first season in 1995 until he sold the franchise in 2018.
Jerry Richardson made significant donations to Wofford College, including funding the Rosalind Sallenger Richardson Center for the Arts (2016), the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium (2017), and a record $150 million gift for endowment with a focus on need-based financial scholarships in 2021. His total gifts exceed $260 million.
Richardson and businessman Hugh McColl purchased the naming rights to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte's football field in 2011. The stadium was named Jerry Richardson Stadium in 2013 after an additional $10 million donation.
Jerome Johnson Richardson Sr., born on July 18, 1936, in Spring Hope, North Carolina, began his career as an Football player. He attended Wofford College, where he was recognized as a Little All-America selection twice in 1957 and 1958. During his college career at Wofford, he set school records for single-game receiving yards (241 yards in 1956) and career touchdown receptions (21). His athletic achievements led to his selection into Wofford’s All-Time Football team as a receiver in 1983. Following college, Richardson was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in the 13th round of the 1959 NFL draft. He played two seasons in the NFL (1959-1960) with the Baltimore Colts, earning Colt Rookie of the Year honors in 1959 and catching a touchdown pass in the 1959 NFL Championship Game.
After his professional football career, Richardson leveraged his 1959 NFL championship bonus to venture into business. He co-founded Spartan Foods by opening the first Hardee’s franchise in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with his college teammate Charles Bradshaw. This initial venture expanded rapidly under his management, leading to him becoming CEO of Flagstar, which grew to be the sixth-largest food service company in the United States, overseeing 2,500 restaurants and employing 100,000 people. He retired from Flagstar in 1995, establishing a significant legacy as a businessman. In 1993, Richardson realized a long-held ambition by founding the Carolina Panthers, making him the first former NFL player since George Halas to own an NFL franchise. The Panthers joined the NFL as the 29th franchise in 1995 and remained under his ownership until 2018.
Richardson was a prominent figure among NFL owners, influencing significant league decisions, including the 2011 NFL player lockout negotiations. Under his ownership, the Carolina Panthers achieved success, including a Super Bowl 50 appearance in 2016. He was also a notable philanthropist, contributing significantly to Wofford College, including a record-setting $150 million donation in 2021 focused on financial scholarships. His contributions to Wofford College exceeded $260 million. Richardson passed away on March 1, 2023, at the age of 86, leaving behind a complex legacy in both sports and business.
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