Seymour Knox
Encyclopedia
Seymour Horace Knox III (March 9, 1926 in Buffalo, New York
– May 22, 1996 in Buffalo) was a philanthropist and sports entrepreneur. He owned the Buffalo Sabres
of the National Hockey League
from their foundation in 1970 to his death in 1996, and served as chairman of the team. He was the grandson of Seymour H. Knox I
, the F.W. Woolworth Company co-founder, and son of art enthusiast Seymour H. Knox II
.
, he presented an application October 19, 1965 to obtain a National Hockey League
expansion team in 1967, but was rebuffed. In 1968, the NHL Board of Governors rejected their agreement to move the Oakland Seals to Buffalo pending league approval. Finally, on December 2, 1969 the league announced its decision to expand to Buffalo and Vancouver for the 1970–71 season. It was Seymour's idea to name the team the Sabres. According to Seymour, a sabre is strong on both defense and offense, and is a weapon carried by a leader.
By 1975, the Sabres were in the Stanley Cup
Finals and Knox was named The Hockey News executive of the year. Knox served on the NHL's Board of Governors for 25 years and was a director of the US Hockey Hall of Fame. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993. Knox was a principal owner of the Buffalo Sabres from their foundation as a National Hockey League franchise in 1970 until his death in 1996. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
in 1993. He was posthumously honoured with the Lester Patrick Trophy
in 1997.
of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League in 1991 and the Buffalo Blizzard
of the National Professional Soccer League in 1992.
The brothers also brought their vision of a state of the art sports and entertainment complex originally named the Marine Midland Arena and now called the First Niagara Center to life. The 20,000 seat complex was completed in 1996 and is located at 1 Seymour H. Knox III Plaza on the waterfront in downtown Buffalo. It is the home of the Buffalo Sabres
and the Buffalo Bandits
as well as the former home of the Buffalo Blizzard
and Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League.
in the United States Army Field Artillery. He was a Vice President at Dominick & Dominick Inc.
His eulogy remarks on the Congressional Record were made by Daniel P. Moynihanhttp://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?r104:2:./temp/~r104v0GSR2:: in the U.S. Senate and John J. LaFalce
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?r104:2:./temp/~r104jypAoG:: and Jack Quinn
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?r104:3:./temp/~r104oJuS3h:: in the House of Representatives
.
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
– May 22, 1996 in Buffalo) was a philanthropist and sports entrepreneur. He owned the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
from their foundation in 1970 to his death in 1996, and served as chairman of the team. He was the grandson of Seymour H. Knox I
Seymour H. Knox I
This article is about the Buffalo merchant and businessman; see Seymour Knox for other people with this name.Seymour Horace Knox I , was a Buffalo, New York businessman who made his fortune in five-and-dime stores...
, the F.W. Woolworth Company co-founder, and son of art enthusiast Seymour H. Knox II
Seymour H. Knox II
Seymour Horace Knox II was a Buffalo, New York philanthropist and art exponent. He was born in 1898 in Buffalo, New York, the son of Seymour H. Knox I, the F.W. Woolworth Company co-founder. He was the father of Seymour H. Knox III and Northrup R...
.
Hockey
Along with his brother Northrup R. KnoxNorthrup R. Knox
Northrup Rand Knox , was a Buffalo banker, sportsman, and community leader who, along with his brother Seymour, brought the National Hockey League franchise the Buffalo Sabres to Buffalo, New York. Knox is the third generation of the Knox family to serve as chairman of Marine Midland Bank and its...
, he presented an application October 19, 1965 to obtain a National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
expansion team in 1967, but was rebuffed. In 1968, the NHL Board of Governors rejected their agreement to move the Oakland Seals to Buffalo pending league approval. Finally, on December 2, 1969 the league announced its decision to expand to Buffalo and Vancouver for the 1970–71 season. It was Seymour's idea to name the team the Sabres. According to Seymour, a sabre is strong on both defense and offense, and is a weapon carried by a leader.
By 1975, the Sabres were in the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
Finals and Knox was named The Hockey News executive of the year. Knox served on the NHL's Board of Governors for 25 years and was a director of the US Hockey Hall of Fame. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993. Knox was a principal owner of the Buffalo Sabres from their foundation as a National Hockey League franchise in 1970 until his death in 1996. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
in 1993. He was posthumously honoured with the Lester Patrick Trophy
Lester Patrick Trophy
The Lester Patrick Trophy has been presented by the National Hockey League and USA Hockey since 1966 to honor a recipient's contribution to ice hockey in the United States. It is considered a non-NHL trophy because it may be awarded to players, coaches, officials, and other personnel outside the NHL...
in 1997.
Other Buffalo sports
The Knox Brothers were the impetus behind the establishment of the Buffalo BanditsBuffalo Bandits
The Buffalo Bandits are a team in the National Lacrosse League . They play at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York. The Bandits played in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1992 to 1997, until the MILL turned into the NLL in 1998....
of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League in 1991 and the Buffalo Blizzard
Buffalo Blizzard
The Buffalo Blizzard was an indoor soccer team based in Buffalo, New York. The team was a member of the now defunct NPSL from 1992 to 2001. From 1992-1996, the team played at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, and they moved to HSBC Arena in 1996 where they played until 2001.The team was originally...
of the National Professional Soccer League in 1992.
The brothers also brought their vision of a state of the art sports and entertainment complex originally named the Marine Midland Arena and now called the First Niagara Center to life. The 20,000 seat complex was completed in 1996 and is located at 1 Seymour H. Knox III Plaza on the waterfront in downtown Buffalo. It is the home of the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
and the Buffalo Bandits
Buffalo Bandits
The Buffalo Bandits are a team in the National Lacrosse League . They play at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York. The Bandits played in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1992 to 1997, until the MILL turned into the NLL in 1998....
as well as the former home of the Buffalo Blizzard
Buffalo Blizzard
The Buffalo Blizzard was an indoor soccer team based in Buffalo, New York. The team was a member of the now defunct NPSL from 1992 to 2001. From 1992-1996, the team played at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, and they moved to HSBC Arena in 1996 where they played until 2001.The team was originally...
and Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League.
Education and vocation
As a Buffalo born and bred sportsman, he excelled at tennis, squash, and polo. He studied at Yale and Columbia before serving as a decorated Corporal in World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in the United States Army Field Artillery. He was a Vice President at Dominick & Dominick Inc.
Dominick & Dominick LLC
Dominick & Dominick LLC , formerly Dominick & Dominick Inc., is one of the oldest, privately held investment firms in the United States. It was one of the original members of the New York Stock Exchange, with an original founder serving as a president. The firm was the syndicate head for General...
Philanthropy
As a philanthropist, Knox contributed to a vast array of Greater Buffalo charities and causes such as the Chamber of Commerce, United Way and Children's Foundation of Erie County. He had four children with his wife Jean: Seymour IV, Read, Avery and Helen, and several grandchildren.His eulogy remarks on the Congressional Record were made by Daniel P. Moynihanhttp://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?r104:2:./temp/~r104v0GSR2:: in the U.S. Senate and John J. LaFalce
John J. LaFalce
John Joseph LaFalce is a former congressman from the state of New York; he served from 1975 to 2003.LaFalce was first elected to the 94th United States Congress in 1974 and re-elected to each succeeding Congress through the 107th, serving his Western New York congressional district for 28 years,...
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?r104:2:./temp/~r104jypAoG:: and Jack Quinn
Jack Quinn (politics)
John Francis "Jack" Quinn is the President of Erie Community College and a former politician from the State of New York. He was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives....
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?r104:3:./temp/~r104oJuS3h:: in the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
.