Art “Buzz” Serotte

Art “Buzz” Serotte

Art “Buzz” Serotte graduated from Bennett in 1957. After matriculating at the University of Buffalo, he became a Physical Education Teacher and coach in the Buffalo Public School System. During his illustrious 35 year career, Serotte made his mark by coaching football and basketball at Grover Cleveland H.S. His football teams captured 12 Harvard Cips, and shared another in 15 title game appearances. Art’s 1 60 – 52 – 5 won/lost career record is one of Western New York’s all-time best. In basketball, Grover won 5 Yale Cups, and 7 Section VI Class titles under his tutelage. He also coached cross country and track at various stages during his coaching tenure at Grover.


During Serotte’s high school days at Bennett, he stood out as a football lineman.He was named All-High by the Buffalo Evening News in his senior year. Serotte helped lead the Tiger gridiron forces to a won 6, lost 2 record, and a 9-6 Harvard Cup Consolation Game victory over McKinley in 1956, for third place. For his outstanding play during the season, he was named to the Buffalo Ad Club’s All-Star game, pitting the Buffalo Public School representatives against a team picked from the Erie County Conference and the Niagara Frontier League.


Art also played basketball at Bennett and was a member of the 1957 Yale Cup Championship team during his senior year.

Lee Jones

Lee Jones

Lee came to Bennett in his sophomore year from out of town. He played varsity football, basketball and ran track. Lee played football in 1945,’46 and ’47. In 1947 he was the team’s leading rusher and pass receiver. Lee was All-High Honorable mention in football both in 1 946 and 1 947. Lee played varsity basketball in 1946, ’47 and ’48. In 1948 he was the leading rebounder and second highest scorer for his team. Lee was again All-High Honorable mention for basketball.

Lee was on the varsity track teams of 1 946, ’47 and ’48. In his junior year he finished third in the 440 yard run in the All-High meet. In 1 948 Lee was the All-High 440 yard champion in the All-High meet and tied a city record which stood for many years.


After graduation Lee attended Michigan State University, where he competed in varsity track in 1 950, ’51 and 1 952.

Eric Hawkins

Eric Hawkins

Eric was a three sport star during his athletic career at Bennett.

In football Eric was 1st team All-High at running back in 1961 . In track, Eric was a two time All-High in the 880 yard relay in both 1960 and ’61 seasons. The Tigers were “Scalp and Blade” champions in 1960 and 1962 during Eric’s career. Eric was also a guard and co-captain of the basketball squad in 1 963.

Fred Vollmar

Fred Vollmar

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

Gary Jackson

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.