Trevor Ruffin

Trevor Ruffin

The Bennett Sports Hall Of Fame Committee was pleased to select a high achiever in Bennett sports history, Trevor Ruffin, to receive the first annual award named after another high achiever in Bennett history, Earle Hannel.

Trevor was the outstanding basketball player of his era at Bennett. Trevor was the “Main Man” in the Tigers undefeated 1987 Yale Cup champion squad that went on to play at the N.Y.S. high school championship tournament at Glens Falls, NY. Trevor went on to set two amazing basketball records one magical February afternoon at Seneca V.H.S. By games end, Trevor had recorded 76 points, including 12 three point shots. Both were W.N.Y. schoolboy records at the time. The Tigers set a team record for most three point shots, 12, and all were scored by Trev.

Following his high school career, Trevor played a year at the junior college level before earning a basketball scholarship to the University of Hawaii. Trevor led Hawaii to become a big time power in NCAA college basketball. Following his remarkable career at Hawaii, Trevor played pro basketball in the NBA, primarily with the Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers. Trevor also played pro basketball overseas. Currently, Trev has signed a contract with the Buffalo franchise in the new pro basketball league to commence this season.

Good luck Trevor Ruffin.

William Blackford

William Blackford

William was a star athlete in two sports, football and track, earning All-High and AII-WNY in both sports. In football, William excelled at the unlikely combination of tailback on offense and defensive end. His quickness off the ball made him unstoppable in getting into the opponents’ backfield. William led the Harvard Cup co-champion 1985 squad to an undefeated season. William was selected to the Lions Club all-star football game following his senior season, and was chosen MVP of the game in 1987.


In track, William was an all-high sprinter. The Tigers went undefeated in all four years of William’s tenure, winning four “Scalp & Blade” trophies. The legendary Section VI champion Bennett 4×1 00 meter relay team that William ran on set an All-High and AII-WNY record of 42.35 seconds. That record still stands to this day as the fastest ever run in WNY.


William followed up his high school career by enrolling at Louisville University. There, William accomplished the rare feat of going out for football as a “walkon” and later getting a full athletic scholarship. As a CB, William was chosen conference “Defensive Player of the Year” in 1989. William was also cited as a preseason All-American CB prior to his senior season.

William still resides in Louisville, KY today, and now is Rev. William Blackford.

Kathy McCarthy Grilliot

Kathy McCarthy Grilliot

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

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

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.