In mid summer 1991, Tom Miller, to show his loyalty to his favorite football team, got an Oregon vanity license plate that said GO BILLS! It wasn't long after, that another die-hard Bills fan, Andy Beecher, spotted Tom's car and left a business card saying "Hey, I'm from Buffalo too!" The two paired up and became fast friends. During the 1991 season Andy, Tom and Tom's son Doug, met with a few known Buffalo people to see whatever games they could and to watch the Super Bowl together.
It all began with a license plate...
During the 1992 season the group grew and decided to meet at a place called Puff's Pub in Gresham, where semi-reliable satellite service provided most games. That year, loyal fan, Kelly Tellegen, came on board and the organization of a Bills Backer club began to form. The Portland United Bills Supporters (PUBS) name was officially chosen!
In 1993, the PUBS group continued to grow. That meant moving to an establishment closer to downtown, Sewickly Addition. This was a small place and served us well for a year as Bills fans started to find us.! During the 1993 season, PUBS fielded their first flag football team in the NFL Backers clubs league. Around this time PUBS became officially affiliated with Bills Backers International!
1994 brought another move to the PUBS group. This time it was to the Dandelion Pub on Grand. This was a great place, centrally located, and membership grew to more than 40! The NBC TV affiliate taped a sports segment about PUBS and the club made a studio appearance on the ABC station post game show after a Bills-Dolphins Monday Night Game.
In 2004 PUBS moved to yet another bigger venue, Jax Bar & Restaurant. Also located in the heart of downtown Portland, Jax served Genny and LaBatt beer! Sadly Jax closed at the end of the 2008 season and PUBS was once again in search of a new location.
Our now famous PUBS logo was created during the 1997 season. And we were on the move once again! This time downtown! Paddy's Bar & Grill was our home for another six years as the club continued to grow.
Many great times were had at Paddy's. Owned by WNY native Gregg Schillinger, and he often treated us to our favorite Buffalo foods and even shipped in Sahlen's hot dogs for us!
We proudly send PUBS contingents to Bills games in San Diego,
Seattle, San Francisco, and Buffalo, and we're always among the
loudest fans in the stadiums!
Co-founder, Tom Miller was voted Oregon's Best Bills Fan by the
Buffalo Bills! Read about Tom's honor on the Bills website.
Many friendships have been formed through PUBS as we reminisce about Western NY and cheer the Bills to victory!
Oh, and there are more Oregon vanity license plates too! Be on the look out for Andy Beecher's DA BILLS plate and Doug Miller's SHOUT plate. "Hey, I love the Bills too!"
In 2009 the Cheerful Bullpen near Providence Park won our hearts with its "Buffalo feel" and Portland hospitality. And 17 flat screen TVs!
With each move membership has kept growing! PUBS now has well over 250 diehards! Our website keeps everyone up to date on all club doings and is a contact for new Bills fans who want to join us.
(sorry, no children allowed)
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