Fred Vollmar

by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023

Fred Vollmar graduated from Bennett in 1954. Prior to his stellar athletic career at Bennett, he displayed his potential as an all around athlete, by winning championships as a member of School # 63 athletic teams. When he matriculated to Bennett, he soon established himself as a consistent performer on the gridiron, hardwood, and baseball diamond. Fred lettered in all three of the major sports during his Tiger’s career. Vollmar played on two championship teams at Bennett, and came within a whisker of winning a third. In 1952, he helped the Tigers capture the football Harvard Cup, with a pulsating 7-6 win over Hutchinson on Thanksgiving Day at All-High Stadium. With a huge crowd cheering wildly, he showed remarkable poise, grit, and determination while quarterbacking Bennett to victory. Coach Fred Braun was the beneficiary of Vollmar’s talents in the two other sports he coached, namely, basketball and baseball. In 1954, “Fritz” Vollmar’s senior year, Bennett won its first Yale Cup since 1944. Vollmar made key steals in a closely contested 70-67 win at rival Kensington, sparking Bennett to clinch the Cup. To cap a remarkable career, the diminutive 5’8″ scrapper helped lead Bennett to the championship final in baseball, where they were edged out by Riverside, 9-8, for the Cornell Cup.Vollmar was named first team All-High, designating him as the premier catcher in Cornell Cup competition for 1954. It was only fitting that Vollmar became a United States Marine upon his graduation from his beloved Bennett. He showed early on that he had the guts and guile to become one of the few and the proud. Fred was also inducted into the “Harvard Cup” Hall Of Fame . Fred Vollmar is currently retired and lives in Amherst.

Gary Jackson

by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023

Gary Jackson graduated from Bennett in 1972, after a sterling athletic career in football, basketball and baseball. On the football field, Gary made first team All-High as a quick anticipating defensive back. He stood out on offense as well, guiding the Tiger fortunes as a gritty quarterback for Coach Berkman’s gridiron forces.

In basketball, Jackson’s guard skills were a key in running the Bennett offense. He was an excellent playmaker, and used those gifts to interest recruiters at LeMoyne College of Syracuse. After his playing days at Bennett, he matriculated to LeMoyne and had a productive career there, being named Captain in his senior year. Jackson played baseball for Bennett in the spring, and was named 1st Team All-High in 1972, after his superb career as an outfielder for the Tigers. In his senior year he threw out seven runners with his strong, accurate arm; two at home, four at second and one at third. In addition, he batted a sparkling .538, cashing in 21 hits in 11 games.

Not only did Gary Jackson star in sports, but he also belonged to a very unique club that saw him cited for never having been absent or tardy during his 13 years in the Buffalo Public Schools.

After graduating from LeMoyne with a degree in Sociology, Gary has spent a long career helping others, as he works with developmentally disabled adults.