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DeRutha Blue Riding (Miss Blue)

DeRutha Blue Riding (Miss Blue)

by | Feb 17, 2023

Three years and three months after graduating from high school, DeRutha Blue was ready for teaching. The 1 969 school year had already started when DeRutha arrived in Buffalo, NY After a three-week assignment at School 51 and School 66, she was asked to assume a position in the Physical Education department at Bennett High School. Bennett’s student population at the time was 2,400; the ideal spot for a teacher to make a difference in the lives of students. DeRutha immediately became involved with after school activities of the students, starting intramural sports and a riding club. Varsity sports did not exist for girls at the time, but a strong intramural program was established and a fight for equal use of the facilities was on!

The next challenge was to establish a varsity sports program for girls. DeRutha’s students were leaders in the fight. The determination of the girls was inspirational to many and resulted in the inception of girl’s varsity sports in 1975. DeRutha credits the unwavering determination and relentless pursuit of the goal by her students, as her inspiration for her 35-year career in education.

Varsity volleyball was the first all-girls sport in the Buffalo Public Schools in 1975. Bennett’s team, under Coach Riding, was ready. The Tigers finished in second place during that inaugural season. In the succeeding years, the Bennett volleyball team won multiple championships and established themselves as the dominant team in city volleyball. DeRutha also coached basketball and softball in addition to volleyball at Bennett. She concluded her career with an additional nineteen years as a teacher and coach at Grover Cleveland High School before retiring in 2004.

DeRutha still resides in Buffalo and continues to be a mentor to all of her former students.

David McCarthy

David McCarthy

by | Feb 17, 2023

David McCarthy was a four year varsity swimmer while at Bennett.The Tigers captured the “Syracuse Cup”, awarded to the city schools swim champions, all four years of David’s tenure at Bennett. In David’s spar1<.ling swim career, he captured a total of 1 0 All-High medals and two city records. Starting in his his freshman year, McCarthy was All-High in the 1 00 yard backstroke, which turned out to be his “specialty”. McCarthy achieved 3 All-Highs, one in each of his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. The events included the 1 00 yard backstroke, 200 yard freestyle, and 400 yard free relay. The city swim records occurred in the 1 00 yard backstroke and 400 yard free relay.

McCarthy attended E.C.C. after Bennett. He is now married and a hospital wor1<.er in the state of Virginia. David is the third of the McCarthy siblings to be inducted into the Bennett Sports Hall Of Fame.

Carl Johnson

Carl Johnson

by | Feb 17, 2023

Carl Johnson graduated from Public School # 8. At Bennett he lettered all four years in football and track. In track Johnson ran both the 100 yard and 220 yard sprints. In football as an offensive and defensive halfback Johnson was second team All High his sophomore and junior years. During his junior and senior years Bennett won the Harvard Cup. In his senior year he was voted the outstanding player in Bennett’s “Turkey Day”win over Grover Cleveland.

After graduating from Bennett Johnson attended North Carolina Central University in Durham where he obtained both his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in History.

At college he met his wife Peggy. They returned to Buffalo and raised three children, Carl II, Caryn, and Camille. Each of his children have been very successful professionally.

Johnson retired as the Executive Director of the St. Augustine’s Family Center. He and Peggy are the proud grandparents of Carl the third and Bryant. This weekend they are celebrating their 43rd wedding anniversary.

Michael Logal

Michael Logal

by | Feb 17, 2023

Michael Logal attended Bennett in the early 1 970’s. In those days Bennett was just a microcosm of the radical changes that had been taking place in America since the mid 1 960’s. Logal was heavily involved in those issues and inspired other students during those turbulent times. His outstanding abilities resulted in his being elected President of the Student Council.

Incredibly, Logal was All High in three of his four years at Bennett playing three different positions. The positions were at center as a sophomore, guard as a junior, and at linebacker as a senior, where he teamed with his good friend David Gibson to form one of the most outstanding duos in Bennett history. Logal was co-captain of the football team in his senior year. He was also a member of numerous championship track teams as a pole vaulter while at Bennett.

Logal’s varied experiences helped him move on to a wonderful opportunity at Hamilton College where he played football for four years and was captain in his senior year. He graduated from 1978 with a BA in Government.

Logal’s “people” skills led him to a productive career in the employment industry. By 1990, Logal and his wife Debby had formed an employment services company in Dallas, Texas, that has been honored numerous times on the Inc. Magazine list as one of the 500 fastest growing companies in America. In 2004, they sold the company and have moved back to Florida, where they presently live.

Logal is currently the Regional V.P. for Apple One Employment Services covering Georgia, Florida, and Puerto Rico.

Martin “Chip” Motley

Martin “Chip” Motley

by | Feb 17, 2023

“Chip” Motley was a three sport varsity athlete at Bennett. Motley played football in his senior year, and two years of basketball, but his athletic claim to fame was in track and field. Chip ran track all four years of high school, and the Tigers were undefeated “Scalp & Blade” champions all four of those years.

During his track career, Chip competed in the 1 1 0 high hurdles, the 1 00 and 220 yard dashes, 440 yard run, long jump, high jump and the mile relay. Motley turned in outstanding times in the 1 00 yard dash, 1 0.2, long jump 21 ‘5″, and 1 600 m. relay of 3:25.3, a city record at the time. However, his “specialty” became the high jump. Motley was #2 in the city as a sophomore with a jump of 6’2″. As he perfected the “Fosbury Flop” style of jumping, Motley set a city record as a junior with a leap of 6′ 6 1 /4″. In his senior year Motley eclipsed his own record, turning in a 6′ 8″ effort. This made him the All-High and AII-WNY champion. In the State track meet following the season, he repeated his 6’8″ jump, narrowly missing at 6’ 1 0″, to take second place in N.Y.S. Motley was named “Super 7” athlete of the week.

Motley’s track career rose to an even higher level after high school at Erie Community College. He became a Junior College All American. Motley was named ECC’s Athlete of the Year, and is in ECC’s Track Hall of Fame.

Motley presently resides in Buffalo, and is a member of the Buffalo Police Force.