[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 75 (Friday, May 24, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E928]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          SEYMOUR H. KNOX III

                                 ______


                          HON. JOHN J. LaFALCE

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 23, 1996

  Mr. LaFALCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute a man who was a 
friend of mine, a friend of his community, and a friend of our Nation. 
Seymour H. Knox III, who passed away this week, was a leader in Western 
New York whose contributions were known to all.
  Mr. Knox was best known as the co-owner, with his brother, of the 
Buffalo Sabres hockey team. But he was more--much more--than a 
sportsman, important as that role was in our community. He followed his 
father's footsteps as a patron of the arts. He was a successful 
businessman. And the list of his other civic endeavors is too long to 
list.
  Seymour Knox's last contribution to our region may be the longest-
lasting. It was his drive and dedication, perhaps more than anything 
else, that ensured the development of his beloved hockey team's new 
home, Marine Midland Arena. And that new facility will help spur the 
continued redevelopment of downtown Buffalo.
  Mr. Speaker, Buffalo and the entire Western New York area will miss 
Seymour Knox, and I know that all of his neighbors and mine join in 
paying tribute to one of our finest.
  At this point, I ask unanimous consent to introduce a Buffalo News' 
editorial about Mr. Knox into the Record:

                 [From the Buffalo News, May 23, 1996]

      Seymour Knox III Leaves Legacy to the Community He Cared For

       Seymour H. Knox III was born to wealth, and he put it to 
     good use for his community. Like his father before him, Knox 
     left Buffalo an institution that will forever bear his mark. 
     In his father's case, it was a nationally known art gallery. 
     In his case, it is a nationally famous sports team. Buffalo 
     is richer for both of them.
       To say it simply, Buffalo needs more people like Seymour H. 
     Knox III. His death Wednesday, from cancer, came a few days 
     after the public got its first look at the Marine Midland 
     Arena, which Knox worked arduously to bring into being. It 
     will be the new home of the Buffalo Sabres major league 
     hockey team, his hard-won creation and his enduring 
     contribution to his home town.
       More than one friend and more than one fan will express 
     regrets that Knox did not live to see the day when his team 
     would skate onto the ice of the new arena. But at least he 
     knew it would happen.
       Though the efforts of Knox and his brother, Northrup, the 
     Buffalo franchise in the National Hockey League was secured 
     in 1969. From the beginning to his death, Seymour Knox III 
     was chairman of the partnership that owned the team. Most of 
     the time he was also president of the team.
       Titles aside, the hockey-loving public knew Knox simply as 
     the one who got the team for Buffalo and served as its head 
     man through the years. He was the guy in the gold seats a few 
     rows above the Sabres' bench.
       Knox also kept the team here. In an age when professional 
     owners change cities at an alarming rate, Knox was loyal to 
     Buffalo even though its comparatively small market might have 
     made other pastures seem greener. The point of the new arena 
     is to make the team financially strong, securing it for 
     Buffalo for the foreseeable future. Knox's vision made the 
     Marine Midland Arena possible. His legacy will be the 
     exciting hockey games of the future--games that will help 
     make Buffalo a better place to spend the winter.
       Knox was also important to Buffalo for numerous other civic 
     endeavors. Those included the chairmanship of the Buffalo 
     Fine Arts Academy, governing body of the Albright-Knox Art 
     Gallery, which, to a great degree, was his father's gift to 
     Buffalo. The gallery's most distinguishing feature is its 
     modern art collection put together with care by the late 
     Seymour H. Knox Jr.
       His son's contribution is less genteel, but a community 
     needs many aspects to its life. It is richer for both of 
     these gifts.
       From the start, the hockey team has played at Memorial 
     Auditorium, Buffalo's aged indoor sports place, now slipping 
     into retirement.
       At the last Sabres game in the Aud a bit more than a month 
     ago, Knox was given a prolonged ovation by a capacity crowd. 
     Fans know why the Sabres exist. They let is show. Knox give a 
     short speech, closing with the words: ``Farewell, old 
     friend.''
       Buffalo people can repeat those words today.

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