Bob Harlan: Changing the trajectory

Continued from previous week

“We just could not find a way to win; 24 years of mediocrity in Green Bay was very, very tough. But, we finally got over that hurdle, and we got over the hurdle of trying to find ways to make money. The fact that Green Bay is still in the NFL — not just in the NFL, but one of the premier franchises in the National Football League is enormous in this day in age.

“And I always looked at my job as the president, as I was a caretaker. I didn’t own the team; I didn’t put any money into the team. I’m a shareholder just like everyone else. I paid $25 for a share of stock, like everyone else.

“But everyone else owned the team; the fans owned the team.

“For the 19 years that I was president, I always answered my own phone, because I felt the people that were calling were a lot more important than me. The owners are calling me, and I’ve got to be available for them. And, I loved that part of the job too.”

When Judge (Robert) Parins took over as president in 1982 from Dominic Olejniczak, he was the first full-time president.

“Even he wasn’t full-time, because he was still working as a judge,” Harlan said.
After eight years, Parins began experiencing health problems.

“He said, ‘Bob, this job is too much pressure. I want to get out, and I am going to suggest to the board that we get a full-time person here, who is going to be a football person,’” recalled Harlan.

“And I said, ‘Judge, if you’re going to do that, I’d like to throw my hat in the ring.’ He said, ‘I figured you would.’ And he said, ’Good.’”

A search team was put together with members of the Packers Board of Directors.

“I was lucky enough to get the job,” Harlan added.

Harlan began as president of the Green Bay franchise on June 5, 1989.

“For 19 years, it was a wonderful time, and I’ll tell you why it was a wonderful time. My first year on the job was 1989; we had a great season with Don Majkowski as quarterback. (But) 1990 was another disappointing season.

When we started out poorly in 1991, I went to the executive committee, and I said, ‘Okay. Here is what I am going to propose, gentlemen. Let’s get the executive committee, the board of directors out of this picture altogether. Let’s hire one strong football person, give him total, full authority over the organization and let him run this organization.’

“And, the man I wanted was Ron Wolf.”

To be continued