Pulaski event to honor sports figures, leaders on Sunday
Outstanding local Polish- American athletes and leaders in sports will be recognized Sunday by the General Pulaski Association at its 36th annual awards banquet in the Creekside Banquet Facility, 2669 Union Road, Cheektowaga.
Honorees are:
•Edward J. Rutkowski, former Erie County executive and Buffalo Bills quarterback.
•Former Rep. Henry J. Nowak Sr., a Canisius College basketball star.
• Thomas Tarapacki, director of Buffalo’s office of telecommunications and author of the book “Chasing the American Dream: Polish Americans in Sports.”
•State Sen. William T. Stachowski, a Lake View Democrat and former college football star and St. Francis High School track coach.
• Robert Pacholski, St. Francis High School track coach.
• Len Jankiewicz, Lancaster School District athletic director.
• White Eagle Soccer team.
• Michael Buczkowski, general manager of the Buffalo Bisons baseball team.
• Lauren Korniczky, an All Western New York field hockey player and Sweet Home High School student-athlete.
• Joshua Jesonowski, an All Western New York football player and Iroquois High School student-athlete.
• Carlene Sluberski, a Fredonia High School student-athlete who earlier this year took part in an international wrestling competition in Sweden.
• J. J. Pincoski, an Orchard Park High School graduate and All Western New York volleyball player.
• Gene Mruk, who, at age 80, was the oldest player in the annual Buffalo Masters Basketball Tournament held in March at UB.
•Dr. Edmond Gicewicz, a 1952 graduate and member of UB’s Hall of Fame, as well as the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.
A posthumous award will go to Gus Franczyk, former Buffalo parks commissioner who also had been an upstate tennis champion.
Tickets to the dinner, scheduled for 7 p. m., are $37 per person, $70 per couple and $325 for a table of 10. Proceeds will benefit the Pulaski Day Parade.
Brian Rusk is the association president; Raymond Dusza is the banquet chairman and Kenneth Graber and Jola Simon are co-chairmen.
