Early life and education Charles Jr. and his younger brother Bill were adopted by
Charles and
Violet Bidwill, the owners of the then-
Chicago Cardinals. Bidwill attended
Georgetown University where he obtained a law degree. He was given the nickname “Stormy” when he was one year old after an uncle observed him having a temper tantrum.
Football and horse racing Prior to the 1960 season, Violet Bidwill moved the Cardinals to
St. Louis, Missouri, and Charles Jr. and Bill inherited the team after their mother's sudden death in 1962. In addition to the football team, the brothers inherited other business interests, including Sportsman's Park. Charles Jr. was named president of Sportsman's Park in 1967 and remained in Chicago to run the horse track while his brother Bill lived in St. Louis and essentially ran the football team. Over the years, the relationship between the Bidwill brothers became strained. The animosity reached a climax when Stormy forced the dismissal of
Cardinals head coach
Charley Winner against Bill's wishes after a
1970 campaign in which the ballclub squandered an opportunity to win the
NFC East title by losing its last three regular-season games. Stormy eventually sold his share of the Cardinals to Bill for $6,500,000 in 1972.
Other business interests Along with Sportsman's Park, Bidwill owned a beer distributorship and had financial interests in four Florida dog tracks. For many years, he was the largest stockholder in
Churchill Downs and a member of its board of directors.
Death Bidwill died in
Northfield, Illinois, on November 3, 2025, at the age of 97. ==References==