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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.

Trevor Ruffin

Trevor Ruffin

by | Feb 17, 2023

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

by | Feb 17, 2023

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

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.