Lothell T. J. Blackmon Jr. was an outstanding three sport athlete in the Buffalo Public Schools. T. J. stands in the unique position where he most certainly will be considered in two different high school Halls of Fame, Bennett and City Honors. T.J. is being honored today for his stellar 2-year career as quarterback for the Bennett Tigers football team during both the 1984 and ‘85 seasons.
The 1985 team was undefeated in 9 games and became Harvard Cup co-champions, and TJ was first team All- High. T.J. was the lynch pin in the Tigers revolutionary “run and shoot” passing offense, never before used in Harvard Cup competition. According to Coach “V”; the only thing that could stop T.J.’s passing attack, did. That came in the form of a huge snowstorm the night before and the morning of the 1985 Harvard Cup championship game. The game against Grover ended up in a 0 – 0 tie in very tough playing conditions.
Aside from T.J.’s football accomplishments, his other outstanding sports career in Buffalo was at City Honors High School. T.J. was a four-year star in basketball and baseball at City Honors, concurrent with his Bennett football career.
T.J. was a second team All-High in basketball in 1985 and ‘86 for the Section VI, class C champion City Honors team. In baseball for the Centaurs, he accomplished even more. T.J. was first team All-High in baseball in 1986 and named Buffalo “player of the year”. T.J. competed in the WNY high school all-star game at Pilot Field in 1986.
After high school, T.J. played basketball and baseball at Hilbert College where he was a Region 3 all-star. After Hilbert, T.J. attended Coastal Carolina College where he played baseball.
T.J.’s working career included 22 years as a Buffalo Fire Fighter. He and his wife Maria are proud parents of four children and two grandchildren.