Tributes poured in following news of the passing of Cheryl Nichols, a valuable member of the Raiders' front office whose career with the Silver and Black spanned over five decades.
Nichols' diverse skillset and get-it-done attitude enabled her to take on many tasks that would be too difficult for others to handle, and she came through exhaustively and completely.
Nichols was one of a group of resolute women affectionately called "Al's Angels."
The group which was all aligned in their support of the Silver and Black included Karen "Fudgie" Otten, Kristi Bailey and Carolyn Paul. They performed the prestigious honor of lighting the Al Davis Memorial Torch on August 15, 2014, at the O.co Coliseum, as a tribute to Mr. Davis' legacy and enduring vision that "the fire that burns the brightest in the Raiders organization is the will to win."
Nichols was a leader who meant so much to the Raiders as well as to many others that had the fortune to call her a teammate, an associate, a confidant and a friend. She was sisterly to some, maternal to others and a commanding presence to all who were fortunate enough to have made her acquaintance.
The Raiders front office was informed shortly after her passing with a company-wide message:
"An integral part of the team's front office, Cheryl was instrumental in administering the organization's facilities for many years, including the team's current headquarters in Henderson. An amazing teammate with talents that shined throughout her years with the Raiders, Cheryl was the most loyal of friends and will forever be a loved and cherished part of the Raiders Family. The prayers of the Raider Nation are with her children Kimberlie and Mark, and the entire Nichols family during this difficult time."
Condolences continued, with many Raiders Alumni hearing the news for the first time during their reunion event that took place last weekend, which included a moment of silence. From Friday's Alumni gathering to Saturday's preseason game versus San Francisco at Allegiant Stadium, those who knew and loved Cheryl expressed their memories.
Raiders President Sandra Douglass Morgan quickly became a Cheryl Nichols admirer: "When I first met Cheryl, clearly, she had an energy and a passion that was unmatched. She was truly the glue that put so many different pieces together. Every time I saw her, she was on the phone working. It was inevitable. She never stopped, and she always put the Raiders first."
Gerry Plunkett, wife of Super Bowl XV MVP Jim Plunkett, cherished her interactions with Nichols, who she had known for five decades: "Cheryl was always dedicated to the family, the Raiders. She was very influential on decorating the facilities. I really respected her. She was a good friend. You could depend on her for anything. We'll all miss her."
Super Bowl XVIII MVP Marcus Allen deeply appreciated his relationship with Cheryl: "Cheryl always treated me great. I've always had a great relationship with her. I was sad to hear. A lot of times, people define the Raiders by the players. But there are people in the organization that were here for so long that were just as much Raiders and had the Raider DNA. In the front office, they have the Raiders DNA, and Cheryl was one of those people. She was part of the fabric of the organization and what made it great."
Terry Robiskie, like everyone else, took the news hard. "When we heard that Cheryl had passed, I think that everybody [at the reunion] shed some tears. I know I did. Cheryl was such a mainstay throughout the Raiders and throughout the Raiders history, and her legacy will always be a part of it."
He went on to share a story about how Cheryl was the first Raiders employee he met in person. "I got drafted by the Raiders in 1977 and flew from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Oakland, and all my transactions were being handled by Cheryl. When I landed, the car that was supposed to pick me up wasn't there. And finally, I realized it was getting a little bit late, and I decided to call Cheryl Nichols and told her I was still at the airport. She said, 'Terry, I'm sorry. I'm going to pick you up myself.' That was one of the most touching things to me because the first person I ever met in person wasn't Al Davis, wasn't John Madden, wasn't Tom Flores. It was Cheryl Nichols. And from that time on, until she passed, we've always been good friends and had the highest regards for each other."
Jerry Robinson was one who experienced her maternal side: "Cheryl Nichols was like a mother figure to me and all of the players that knew her. She always made me feel so comfortable and I loved every time I saw her. Every single time I saw her, she'd give me a hug and ask me how I was doing and how my family was doing. I told her that 'I love you' and she would always say, 'I love you too.' Not being able to see her smiling face, and her hugs and conversations hurts me deeply. I have lost another member of my family. The Davis family and the Raider Organization and Raider Nation have lost another family member. But we have another angel watching over us. Thank you, Cheryl, for being such a positive, caring and loving person to all of us. You will never be forgotten. Rest In Peace Cheryl."
Napoleon McCallum was next to share his memories: "Cheryl Nichols was just a beautiful bright light shining her smiling face and laughter everywhere. There was no problem you could bring to her that was too big. Somehow, some way, she always got it done. You could tell in everything she did, she lived the Raider motto, Commitment to Excellence. I wouldn't be surprised if Cheryl came up with that motto or Al Davis just saw Cheryl getting everything done and said, 'That lady's got a Commitment to Excellence.' I was blessed that our paths crossed at the Raiders."
Prior to kickoff on Saturday at Allegiant Stadium, another moment of silence followed recognition of Cheryl, who Raiders Alumnus Mike Haynes described as having "an awesome personality and it was obvious that she understood players challenges and enjoyed helping them. During the season, players must be in constant conversations with teammates and the Raiders personnel to ensure they'll be able to get things done without a lot of stress. Communication is super important to be able to focus on success. Cheryl understood that. She knew how to help players and their families lower their stress levels. She was a joy to be around. She will be missed."
During the television broadcast, play-by-play commentator Jason Horowitz reiterated to the viewers a statement that appeared on the team's website the day prior: "The Raiders family is deeply saddened by the passing of Cheryl, a longtime employee and administrator whose career spanned five decades with the Silver and Black. An amazing teammate with talents that shined through her years with the Raiders, Cheryl was the most loyal of friends and will forever be a loved and cherished part of the Raiders Family. The prayers of the Raider Nation are with her children Kimberlie and Mark, and the entire Nichols family during this difficult time. She will certainly be missed by the Raiders organization."
The tribute extended to the Raiders radio booth, with play-by-play commentator JT The Brick describing Cheryl as "one of the most important, impactful people ever in the organization."
The radio analyst duo concurred on air. "Cheryl was as good as it got," said Matt Millen. "She took care of everything that needed to be taken care of, and then some. She was 100 percent reliable and was a great person." Eric Allen added, "We are definitely saddened today by her passing."
Prior to joining the Raiders radio postgame show, Lincoln Kennedy shared his memories: "When I first arrived with the Raiders in 1996, Cheryl and Al [Davis] and the entire Raider family welcomed me with open arms. And because I was new to the area of Oakland, Al told me, 'Get in touch with Cheryl for whatever you need to get acclimated to the area and get situated.' And ever since then, Cheryl has just been a vital resource to anything I wanted to do as a player and even as a former player. I could always rely on her to get answers to questions that I might have had and get pointed in the right direction. She is going to be missed, a tremendous loss. She would come through for you if you asked her a question. If she didn't have the answer, she would definitely find it."
Mike Madden recalled how his father, Raiders Legend John Madden, described Cheryl: "Dad used to say, 'There's nothing that Cheryl can't get done! You want something done right with one phone call? Give it to Cheryl!'"
Pride and Poise and a Commitment to Excellence flowed through her veins and are now embedded in the spirit of "Al's Angel." The following quote by Al Davis is apropos in celebrating the life of Cheryl Nichols: "We all know time never really stops for the great ones. It reaches out and wraps them in a cloak of immortality."
