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Kathy McCarthy Grilliot

Kathy McCarthy Grilliot

by | Feb 17, 2023

Kathy McCarthy starred for the Bennett swimming team all four years in high school. Kathy was a pioneer in girls sports in Buffalo by becoming the first girl (along with teammate Lydia Manuel) to make a boys varsity squad. Trained by her dad, Vince, and coached by Byron Vickery, Kathy became the first girl to earn All-High honors by winning the 100 yard Butterfly in 1971. Kathy made believers out of doubters that felt girls could not compete at boys level on varsity teams.


In her first three years of competition, Kathy failed to finish first only twice in her specialty, the 100 yard butterfly event. Kathy also showed some versatility by winning several 400 yard freestyle events. During her sophomore season, Kathy was undefeated during the regular season, and came away from the All-High meet with another title. Kathy was the only girl to compete in that meet. As a senior, Kathy was a teammate of her freshman sister, Mary Lou.

Kathy followed her stellar high school career by landing a swimming scholarship to Lake Forest College (Illinois). Kathy Mccarthy Grilliot is now residing in Vienna, VA, and is teaching in the Respiratory Therapy Program at Northern Virginia Community College.

Kenneth Lidge

Kenneth Lidge

by | Feb 17, 2023

Ken was a football and basketball star at Bennett. Kenny accomplished a rare feat of being selected as first team All-High as a receiver in sophomore, junior and senior year. Ken was also selected as first team All-WNY end in 1969. Ken was the main “go to” guy for the 1968 Harvard Cup champion Bennett squad. He was acclaimed by many that saw Ken perform as the finest high school receiver they had ever seen.

Kenny played three years of varsity basketball, and was a starting forward in his junior and senior years. He played on some very competitive Bennett teams under coach Don Gilbert.

Ken resides in Buffalo today and works in the Buffalo School System.

Paul Hennessey

Paul Hennessey

by | Feb 17, 2023

Paul starred for Bennett in the mid 50’s after transferring from St. Joe’s in 1955. Paul quickly assimilated into the Bennett mainstream as a student-athlete, finding his niche on the gridiron and baseball diamond. /ls a catcher in baseball, he played on Bennett’s undefeated Cornell Cup championship team of 1957. Paul was a strong armed right handed thrower, and a left handed hitter. Paul was a mainstay on that club. In 1958, his senior year, Paul hit .467, and was named the All High catcher on another winning Bennett baseball squad. Over the two year period of his junior and senior year, Paul failed to hit safely in only one game.


In football, Paul played on the offensive line for the Tigers, and doubled as a kicking specialist. In 1958 Paul represented Bennett in the All-Star football game at Civic Stadium. That game pitted the city all-stars against the county all-stars.


Following his high school career, Paul served in the U.S. Army and played ball for the VII Corps Jayhawks. Paul now resides in Cheektowaga, and is a retired U.S. Postal employee.

Robert Daughtry

Robert Daughtry

by | Feb 17, 2023

Robert was a football and track star at Bennett in the early 60’s. Robert played end, and was selected as the 1st team All-High receiver in his senior season. The 1 961 Tigers played in the consolation game on Thanksgiving Day, and Robert caught a touchdown pass to help the Tigers win the game.

In track, Robert was an all-high sprinter. The 880 yd. relay teams of both 1961 and 1962 won the All-High meet. Robert was the only performer on both of those squads, as he had three new teammates for the 1962 repeat.

After graduating from Bennett, Robert attended Howard University where he majored in marketing. He worked as an account executive for a “Fortune 500” company.

Robert now resides in the Washington, DC area.

Talbot Freeland

Talbot Freeland

by | Feb 17, 2023

Talbot came to Bennett H.S. from P.S. 31 in September of ’55. His outgoing, positive personality, as well as his athletic talent, were immediately evident to his classmates at Bennett.

Talbot was a star in basketball and football, the two most high profile sports at the Main Street school. In basketball, he was a starter as a sophomore, and contributed many valuable minutes as Bennett won the 1957 Yale Cup. In his senior year, Bennett repeated as Yale Cup champions, with Talbot being the main cog. He averaged nearly 19 points per game, provided excellent ball handling and floor play, and finished second in the Yale Cup scoring race. As a result of his sterling efforts, he was named All-High in the Buffalo Evening News and the Courier Express. In addition, Talbot was the first Bennett player to be named to the All Western New York basketball team, as the Courier Express published its first edition of that honor squad during Talbot’s senior year.

In football, Talbot showed his athletic skill with a key touchdown pass reception against the Tech Engineers during a Bennett victory in 1958. Talbot earned three major letters in football.

After graduation, Talbot matriculated at Winston-Salem State University (NC). While a member of the basketball team there, he was a teammate of NB legend Earl “The Peart” Monroe.

Talbot Freeland passed away in February of 1996.