by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
Pat Thayer was a multi-talented athlete who lived in the Buffalo University District. She was extremely well known for her athletic ability at her local playground besides school.
During the time that Pat attended Bennett, there was no funding for any girls’ interscholastic athletics in the entire city of Buffalo. However, Pat was a prime example of uncoached raw talent.
She was incredibly enthusiastic and instrumental in pushing for girls’ sports and was heavily involved in both intramural and pre-Title IX team activities. In 1969, students were notified of a petition asking for girls’ sports. Signatures were presented to Mr. Sikora, the principal, who essentially responded in a disregarding manner.
From 1969 to 1973, Pat was a staunch 4-year member of the Bennett bowling club. She continued bowling into her adult life and excelled tremendously.
Pat also played four years of intramural Volleyball. In her senior year, Physical Education teachers Miss Blue and Mrs. Henderson, entered a team into the Erie County Recreation Department Volleyball tournament. This was the girls first “real” competitive opportunity.
The third sport Pat was involved with was the pre-Title IX Basketball team. Pat was only one of four girls to play all four years. In her freshman year, Nottingham High School invited the girls to play their first and only game. The entire team had to walk to that school to play. Each year, more and more games were added. In her senior year, she played on the undefeated girls Bennett team that was 12-0.
Her fourth high school sport included two years of Pre-Title IX Softball. She was always a solid and dependable contributor to her team. All practices were held by Coach Mary Righetti at Shoshone Park.
Pat continued bowling after graduating, for 30 plus years and had her first perfect “300” game at Abbott Lanes in December 1996. She was the first female to bowl a “300” at Abbott Lanes and rolled games of 257, 300 and 200 for a 757 series. Pat was a member of the “Buffalo 600 Club” and finished in second place with a 286-688.
Pat was a fantastic Pre-Title IX athlete at a time when there was no “girls” Buffalo Public School funding, coaching, uniforms, practice time or transportation. WHAT IF?!
by Jeff | Feb 17, 2023
M. “Peachie” Beeks was a multi-sport athlete at Bennett High School in the early 1970’s during the pre-Title IX era when the Buffalo Public Schools offered no interscholastic girls sorts competition.
Fortunately, there were sports programs for girls in the Catholic High Schools, private schools and the Catholic Youth Organization. This provided a unique opportunity to set up games with those programs. Initially, all games were set up independently at the teams’ own expense and the transportation was provided by the players or their family members. Later, Miss Blue, the girls’ Physical Education teacher, assisted in organizing games by calling the Buffalo City Schools so they could draft girls to sign up for a team and play. Funding by the Buffalo Board of Education occurred several years later in 1974 and this finally established a citywide high school sports program for girls.
“The only way we could practice basketball at Bennett was in the 2nd floor school hallway using a large cardboard garbage can as a basket; or at city playgrounds with boys as long as we brought a basketball. Bennett did not provide any type of budget for uniforms, so we went out and purchased matching T-shirts and socks. My sister, Berniece Beeks, sewed the numbers on our shirts! As we continued playing and winning games, the team wanted a picture in the yearbook, so we all pitched in to have a picture taken and submitted it to the yearbook committee.” The teams’ win-loss record was 26 wins vs. 5 losses over a 3-year time span, with a 12 – 0 record in the final year.
Outside of Bennett, “Peachie” successfully participated in many sporting events over the years including, softball, bowling, basketball and volleyball. She also sponsored teams for the Empire State Games, Gus Macker basketball leagues, Buffalo City softball leagues and the Houghton Park volleyball league. Uniquely, she sponsored a G.I.R.L.S. Sports Foundation, Inc. team to take a girls basketball team to a WNBA game.
“Peachie” was employed by General Mills for 39 years and was the first female to secure employment in the Milling Department. In May 2017, she successfully retired after a wonderful career with General Mills.
Peachie’s greatest achievements include coaching a woman’s softball team to the City of Buffalo Championship and receiving the Black Achievers Award in Her most current athletic joy is playing pickleball.
