ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WKBW) — On August 17, 1973, Bob Franklin went to the inaugural Bills game in Orchard Park, at what was then called Rich Stadium. It was a preseason game against Washington.

"It was crazy," described Franklin, who grew up in Buffalo. "People were trying to get to the stadium, people didn't know where the heck they were going...Everything was so new, because we came from The Rockpile. Coming here was unbelievable, it was big time."

Franklin later moved to Texas, where he served as a firefighter for more than 35 years. He also raised his children in Texas.

Last season, Franklin went to a game at Highmark Stadium to say goodbye to the stadium.

"I didn't think I was coming back [here]," said Franklin.

Little did he know that for his 70th birthday, just a few months ago,

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