Borussia Dortmund is mourning the death of Alois Scheffler. The longtime chairman of the council of elders, honorary chairman of this body, honorary member of the club, has died at the age of 99.

“This news has hit us really hard,” said BVB president Dr. Reinhard Rauball and Hans-Joachim Watzke, BVB chairman, on Tuesday evening. They sent the family of the deceased their sincere condolences.

Alois Scheffler, born on 28 January 1915 in Friedrichroda, Thuringia, had been honorary chairman of the BVB council of elders since 26 November 1995 and a member of the club since 1928. He would have celebrated his 100th birthday in a few weeks' time on 28 January 2015.

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“In all the roles which he held over the years, Alois Scheffler always served this club with heart and mind,” said Dr. Rauball, recalling “his legendary speech at the club's annual meeting a year ago, which he concluded with the phrase 'once a Borusse, always a Borusse' to rapturous applause from the members.”

The trained architect, whose architecture firm in Dortmund-Aplerbeck is being successfully led by his descendants, was a youth team player for the Black and Yellows between 1928 and 1934 and he won the district youth team championship, the highest title at the time, with them in 1934.

In 1968, Alois Scheffler became chairman of the council of elders and remained in the post until 1995. In 1978, during his time in this office, he was elected honorary member of the club at the annual general meeting by 524 votes to 1. On 28 January 1990, his 75th birthday, the then president of the German Football Association (DFB) awarded the club veteran the DFB golden merit pin.

“Our thoughts are with his family,” said Watzke.