Buffalo State to Induct Five Into Athletics Hall of Fame
Paul Childress (’96, Football), a world record holding powerlifter and former football All-American, and four others will be inducted into the Buffalo State Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday. Joining Childress in the Hall will be Amy Danner (’97, Basketball), Jack Foster (’51, Cross Country), Thomas M. Strutt (’80, Soccer) and Joe LoTempio (Honorary).
A defensive tackle with the Bengals’ football team from 1991 through 1994, Childress helped Buffalo State to its first ECAC Bowl Championship, and led the Bengals to three consecutive trips to the NCAA Playoffs. He finished his career with 126 tackles, including 17.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss. A two-year captain, he was a three-time All-ECAC selection and was an All-American in 1993. He completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Health and Wellness from Buffalo State, and completed a Master’s in Exercise Science and Physical Education from Canisius College. Since completing his football career, Childress focused his attention on his powerlifting career and became a World Champion. He is the current World Record Holder in the 308-pound weight class for squat (1,124 lbs.), bench press (690 lbs.), and total (2,579 lbs.).
Danner played four seasons of basketball at Buffalo State, leading the Bengals to three NCAA Playoff appearances and a SUNYAC Championship in 1994. A two-time First Team All-SUNYAC selection, Danner also earned Second Team Upstate New York honors once and was named to the SUNYAC All-Tournament Team once. She finished her career with 1,147 career points, ranking fourth on the school’s all-time scoring list. Danner also played one season of soccer at Buffalo State, scoring three goals and seven points in 13 games. She earned the Ruth Houston Award for “Outstanding Career Accomplishments” by a female student-athlete. Danner completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Health and Wellness with a minor in Coaching.
Foster ran cross country and track at Buffalo State from 1947 to 1951 and was an integral part of the New York State Athletic Conference Championship team. He also helped Buffalo State defeat Dartmouth and Colgate in 1948, and was the first scoring member of the Buffalo State team that finished fifth at the National AAU 10,000-meter Cross Country Championship in 1949. Foster earned his Bachelor’s Degree in General Education from Buffalo State in 1951 and completed his Master’s in 1961. He went on to complete his Doctorate at Ball State in Muncie, IN in 1967. Following his graduation from Buffalo State, Foster was activated in the US Army from the National Guard with the rank of Sergeant, and served two years in a Heavy Weapon Company in Hango, Germany. Foster also competed in several post-collegiate road races, including six Boston Marathons (placed 758th with a time of 3:47.53 at age 50) and three Connecticut Marathons (finished 17th in 1978). He worked for 30 years as a history professor at Southern Connecticut State University where he also coached the women’s track and cross country teams for 20 years. During that time, he earned several Coach of the Year honors, and qualified 25 women for the NCAA Division II Championships.
Strutt played two seasons of soccer at Buffalo State, earning All-State and All-SUNYAC honors each season. He was also named All-American and received the Huntley Parker SUNYAC Player of the Year Award in 1980, leading the Bengals to the NCAA Playoffs. After finishing his collegiate career, Strutt went on to play professionally with the Rochester Flash in the A-League. Strutt completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering from Buffalo State. He has remained active in soccer, coaching with WSA Girls Youth Soccer, leading his teams to a pair of Division I Championships.
LoTempio enrolled at Buffalo State and competed in basketball and tennis, and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Exceptional Education in 1966. Since graduating from college, Joe has remained active in athletics, winning more than 100 racquetball championships throughout the United States over a 30-year period, including the New York State Open Singles and Doubles Championships. He has also remained active as a supporter and advocate of Buffalo State Athletics, is a “Lifetime Member” of the Buffalo State Bengal Booster Club, and is a long-time supporter of the Bengal Club Golf Tournament.
For tickets, call Tom Koller, Associate Athletics Director, at 716-878-6514.
A defensive tackle with the Bengals’ football team from 1991 through 1994, Childress helped Buffalo State to its first ECAC Bowl Championship, and led the Bengals to three consecutive trips to the NCAA Playoffs. He finished his career with 126 tackles, including 17.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss. A two-year captain, he was a three-time All-ECAC selection and was an All-American in 1993. He completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Health and Wellness from Buffalo State, and completed a Master’s in Exercise Science and Physical Education from Canisius College. Since completing his football career, Childress focused his attention on his powerlifting career and became a World Champion. He is the current World Record Holder in the 308-pound weight class for squat (1,124 lbs.), bench press (690 lbs.), and total (2,579 lbs.).
Danner played four seasons of basketball at Buffalo State, leading the Bengals to three NCAA Playoff appearances and a SUNYAC Championship in 1994. A two-time First Team All-SUNYAC selection, Danner also earned Second Team Upstate New York honors once and was named to the SUNYAC All-Tournament Team once. She finished her career with 1,147 career points, ranking fourth on the school’s all-time scoring list. Danner also played one season of soccer at Buffalo State, scoring three goals and seven points in 13 games. She earned the Ruth Houston Award for “Outstanding Career Accomplishments” by a female student-athlete. Danner completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Health and Wellness with a minor in Coaching.
Foster ran cross country and track at Buffalo State from 1947 to 1951 and was an integral part of the New York State Athletic Conference Championship team. He also helped Buffalo State defeat Dartmouth and Colgate in 1948, and was the first scoring member of the Buffalo State team that finished fifth at the National AAU 10,000-meter Cross Country Championship in 1949. Foster earned his Bachelor’s Degree in General Education from Buffalo State in 1951 and completed his Master’s in 1961. He went on to complete his Doctorate at Ball State in Muncie, IN in 1967. Following his graduation from Buffalo State, Foster was activated in the US Army from the National Guard with the rank of Sergeant, and served two years in a Heavy Weapon Company in Hango, Germany. Foster also competed in several post-collegiate road races, including six Boston Marathons (placed 758th with a time of 3:47.53 at age 50) and three Connecticut Marathons (finished 17th in 1978). He worked for 30 years as a history professor at Southern Connecticut State University where he also coached the women’s track and cross country teams for 20 years. During that time, he earned several Coach of the Year honors, and qualified 25 women for the NCAA Division II Championships.
Strutt played two seasons of soccer at Buffalo State, earning All-State and All-SUNYAC honors each season. He was also named All-American and received the Huntley Parker SUNYAC Player of the Year Award in 1980, leading the Bengals to the NCAA Playoffs. After finishing his collegiate career, Strutt went on to play professionally with the Rochester Flash in the A-League. Strutt completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering from Buffalo State. He has remained active in soccer, coaching with WSA Girls Youth Soccer, leading his teams to a pair of Division I Championships.
LoTempio enrolled at Buffalo State and competed in basketball and tennis, and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Exceptional Education in 1966. Since graduating from college, Joe has remained active in athletics, winning more than 100 racquetball championships throughout the United States over a 30-year period, including the New York State Open Singles and Doubles Championships. He has also remained active as a supporter and advocate of Buffalo State Athletics, is a “Lifetime Member” of the Buffalo State Bengal Booster Club, and is a long-time supporter of the Bengal Club Golf Tournament.
For tickets, call Tom Koller, Associate Athletics Director, at 716-878-6514.
Media Contact:
Jeffrey Ventura, Sports Information Director | 7168786030 | venturjm@buffalostate.edu