AURORA | Aside from the late Barrel Man, Ralph Williams might be the most iconic Bronco fan to ever don the orange and blue.
Sporting a custom-made chauffeur’s uniform — complete with a cap dotted with shiny gems and Bronco logos — the Aurora man’s “Limo Driver” character has been a staple on the city’s sports scene for nearly two decades.
But this year, as the Broncos gear up for their second Super Bowl in three years on Sunday, Williams isn’t quite himself. In late 2014, Williams’ limo — painted blue and orange and plastered with Broncos logos and images of the team’s greats — was repossessed.
That means for the first time in more than 20 years, Williams won’t have a limo when the Broncos play in a Super Bowl.
Williams didn’t want to discuss details about the repossession, but insists it wasn’t legal or fair. He said he has talked to lawyers, but hiring one to take his case has proved too costly.
“It’s been kind of depressing,” he said in an interview at his Aurora home a few days after the Broncos won the AFC Championship game. “It’s been a struggle for me to deal with everybody asking about the car.”
But Williams is hoping that his time as a limo driver without a limo is only a brief one. He said he has been in touch with a limo company about converting a stretch Hummer limo into a Broncos-themed ride. If he pulls it off, it would be his third Broncos limo since he got started in the 1990s.
“Think about that car being orange and blue,” he said with a smile, holding a picture of the limo he is hoping to turn into his third Broncos limo.
The limo would be used primarily for charity functions, Williams said. Beyond that, he would rent it out for a few a few dozen times a year to cover the costs.
Still, even without a limo, Williams is looking forward to the game on Sunday. While he didn’t have a limo with him as the Broncos rolled through the AFC this season, he said his faith in the team never wavered.
“Success for the team is automatic with me,” he said.
His prediction for the game? The Broncos, behind their league-best defense, come out on top 31-19.
“They’re underestimating that D,” he said. “And they are underestimating Peyton.”