BENNETT BEACON

DONATE

Arthur Faturos

Arthur Faturos

by | Feb 17, 2023

Arthur had an outstanding tennis career at Bennett. He was All-High and undefeated for three straight years,winning 33 straight matches. He played first doubles during his sophomore and junior year, and second singles his senior year.


Bennett won the city tennis championship in both 1 955 and 1 956. Arthur was also an outstanding baseball player as a youngster, and could have had an equally outstanding career in that sport if he had continued to play. However, tennis was his first love.


He received his pharmacy degree from the University of Buffalo, but didn’t play tennis in college due to personal and work commitments. However, he won five City of Buffalo doubles titles, four with his twin brother, Jim, and one with Jack Sunderland.

Some local experts felt that Arthur and Jim would have been ranked nationally if they had been given the opportunity to travel and play against the best players in the country. Regardless, they are regarded as one of the finest doubles teams to have ever competed in Western New York.

Bert “lce Box” Stevenson

Bert “lce Box” Stevenson

by | Feb 17, 2023

Bert played football, basketball and track at Bennett in the mid 1 980’s. Bert’s best sport was football, although he was videotaped for college recruiting purposes, running a 4.9 second 40 yard dash and dunking a basketball. This is no small feat for a 6’3″, 285 lb. tackle/shotputter.


In football, Bert was a four year varsity player, All-High his junior and senior year, and second team all WNY his senior year. Bert led Bennett to the Harvard Cup in 1 985. He was then selected to play in the all-WNY Lions Club All-Star football game in the summer of ’86, and was presented the MVP award as the game’s outstanding player.


In track, Stevenson was a four year starter in the shot put, ran an occasional leg in a relay, and threw the discus in non-city meets. Bennett went undefeated in all four of his years in track and field, and to this day Bert still holds the city shot put record of 53’5″. Bert played varsity basketball in his junior and senior years, and was the starting center in his senior year.


After graduation from Bennett, Bert attended Kentucky State on a football scholarship. After one season he was recruited by Division I Temple University. His promising college career was cut short by a serious eye injury. However, he will always be remembered for the incredible agility and speed that he possessed for a man of his size.


Stevenson is currently employed as an administrator in the Buffalo school system.

Bill Monkarsh

Bill Monkarsh

by | Feb 17, 2023

Monkarsh, affectionately nicknamed “Monk,” had a great athletic career at Bennett. He starred in baseball, basketball and football, earning seven varsity letters with an aggressive style that marked his play in all three sports. Bill was the All-High catcher on the ’55 Cornell Cup baseball champions. He also was All-High honorable mention in football during his senior season.


After graduation, “Monk” signed a professional baseball contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers, and later signed with the Detroit Tiger organization during his five-year career. After his pro baseball career came to an end, Monkarsh took up tennis and became one of the areas finest tennis players, winning a MUNY Open Doubles title with David Loder.

He graduated from the University of Buffalo in physical education, and later coached there. His UB baseball and tennis teams achieved an amazing total of 560 wins during his tenure at the university. Over 40 of his baseball players signed professional contracts, including major leaguers Joe Hesketh and Dennis Howard.

It is rare that any athlete has accomplished as much as Monkarsh did, both as an athlete and as a coach.

Elvira Brinson

Elvira Brinson

by | Feb 17, 2023

Brinson was a three sport star in each of her four years at Bennett. Although she was outstanding in volleyball and softball, her most proficient sport was basketball. Elvira was captain and team MVP in both her junior and senior seasons. She earned first team All-High as a senior, and set the single game scoring record for girls with an incredible 52 points in one game.


In volleyball, she was a four year player. She was the captain and team MVP in her junior and senior seasons, attaining All-High status as a senior.

Brinson was also a standout in softball, playing four years on the varsity girls softball team.


Her accomplishments led to her being named the school’s top female athlete in 1 984, her senior year. For her outstanding athletic accomplishments she earned a full scholarship to Sam Houston University in Texas.


She currently resides in Buffalo and works in the family business.

Jim Faturos

Jim Faturos

by | Feb 17, 2023

Jim was a two sport star at Bennett. He was All-High in tennis three straight years, going undefeated in 33 consecutive matches. Jim played first doubles with his twin brother, Art, as a sophomore, and played first singles his junior and senior years. Jim was regarded as the finest public high school player in the area during his junior and senior years. His serve and volley game was powerful and consistent.

In basketball, Jim was third team All-High as a senior, averaging 1 5.2 points per game. Like his brother, he was also an outstanding baseball player during the summers, but chose tennis as his high school spring sport.

After high school, Jim starred at the University of Buffalo at first singles in tennis. In addition to winning city doubles titles with his brother and Lloyd Tack, Jim won many doubles titles in senior divisions.

Jim retired after a long career as a physical education teacher in the city of Buffalo, and is recognized as a fine amateur golfer in the area today.