Former Panthers Stadium LLC President JON RICHARDSON, the oldest son of NFL Panthers Owner JERRY RICHARDSON, died yesterday at the age of 53 "after a long battle with cancer," according to Jones & Person of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. Richardson had served as president of what is "now known as Bank of America Stadium from the team's inception until his resignation" in '09. He had "successfully battled cancer while he worked for the Panthers." But the disease "returned, and its effects required him to use a wheelchair." Funeral arrangements are pending. Jon Richardson and his brother, MARK, "resigned abruptly from high-ranking positions with the team" on Sept. 1, 2009. The brothers "remained part of the ownership group but maintained a low profile after their resignations." Jon Richardson "oversaw several stadium improvement projects," including a $5.5M "renovation of the club level in 2003, the replacement of the playing field in 2004 and the installation" of LED boards in '07. One of his "final projects was the addition of a new scoreboard and sound system" in '08 (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/17). In Charlotte, Scott Fowler writes, "What I liked most about Jon Richardson ... was what a normal guy he was." Jon Richardson, like his father, was "very much a down-to-earth man." Fowler: "You could tell he enjoyed literally getting in on the ground level of the stadium, where the groundskeepers took care of the field" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/17). ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas, a former Charlotte Observer Panthers reporter, wrote, "Much like his father, Jon Richardson was a man of the people." He "didn't flaunt his wealth or status and was well respected by the team's employees" (ESPN.com, 7/16).
