Born in Chicago in 1928, Charles “Stormy” Bidwill Jr. was adopted alongside his younger brother Bill by Cardinals owner Charles Bidwill Sr. and his wife Violet, placing him at the center of one of professional football’s most storied family legacies. He earned his colorful nickname at age one, when an uncle observed him mid-tantrum, and the name stuck for life. Bidwill attended Georgetown University, where he earned a law degree.

When Violet Bidwill died suddenly in 1962, Stormy and Bill inherited both the Cardinals franchise and a portfolio of business interests that included Sportsman’s Park horse racing track in Cicero, Illinois. Stormy was named president of Sportsman’s Park in 1967 and remained in Chicago to run the track while Bill relocated to St. Louis to oversee the football operation. The arrangement worked until tensions between the brothers reached a breaking point following the 1970 season, when Stormy forced the dismissal of Cardinals head coach Charley Winner over Bill’s objections. He sold his share of the franchise to Bill in 1972 for $6.5 million.

Beyond football and horse racing, Bidwill owned a beer distributorship, held financial interests in four Florida dog tracks, and for many years was the largest stockholder in Churchill Downs, serving on its board of directors. He passed away in Northfield, Illinois, on November 3, 2025, at the age of 97.