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Henry J. Nowak

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Henry J. Nowak
Nowak, c. 1989
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from New York
In office
January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1993
Preceded byThaddeus J. Dulski
Succeeded byJack Quinn (redistricting)
Constituency37th district (1975–83)
33rd district (1983–93)
Comptroller of Erie County, New York
In office
January 1, 1966 – September 11, 1974
Preceded byClinton C. Couhig
Succeeded byAnthony P. LoRusso
Personal details
Born
Henry James Nowak

(1935-02-21)February 21, 1935
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
DiedJuly 21, 2024(2024-07-21) (aged 89)
Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseRose Santa Lucia[1]
Children2
EducationCanisius College (BA)
University of Buffalo (JD)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1957–1958
1961–1962
RankCaptain[1]

Henry James Nowak (February 21, 1935 – July 21, 2024) was an American lawyer, politician, and a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from New York between 1975 and 1993.

Early life

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Nowak was born in Buffalo, New York, in 1935. He attended public elementary schools in Buffalo and graduated from Riverside High School, Buffalo, in 1953. He earned a B.A. from Canisius College, Buffalo in 1957.[2]

During his college career, Nowak was a star basketball player for the Golden Griffs. When he graduated, he was Canisius College's all-time scoring leader. In three years as a starter, he scored 1,449 points and averaged 18.6 points a game. Today, he still ranks first in rebounding and third in all-time scoring.[3] As a basketball player, Nowak was nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" for his tough, aggressive playstyle.[4] Nowak led the Griffs to three of their four appearances in the NCAA basketball tournament.[5] The St. Louis Hawks subsequently drafted him with the 28th pick in the 1957 NBA draft.[6]

From 1957 to 1958, Nowak served in the United States Army, then earned a J.D. from the University of Buffalo Law School in 1961. He then served in the Army again from 1961 to 1962.[7]

Political career

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Admitted to the New York bar in 1963, he commenced practice in Buffalo, and served as assistant district attorney of Erie County, New York in 1964. Erie County Comptroller from 1966 to 1974, he was also a delegate to the New York State Democratic convention in 1970, and to the Democratic National Convention in 1972 and 1988.[8]

Congress

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Nowak was elected as a Democrat in 1974 – among a group of liberal Democrats elected that year known as the Watergate Babies — to represent New York's 37th congressional district in the 94th Congress, after 4 terms Nowak was redistricted into the 33rd district, which he represented for 5 terms. He served from January 3, 1975, to January 3, 1993,[9] choosing not to try and return to the House after the 33rd district was abolished during redistricting. During his entire congressional career, he was a member of the U.S. House Committee on Public Works and Transportation. He was described in The Buffalo News as "Buffalo's billion-dollar man", a self-effacing lawmaker mainly known for securing grants for infrastructure projects in the Buffalo area, including the construction of Interstate 990.[10] Nowak chose to retire amid heavy turnover into the 103rd Congress, not wanting his successor to consequently end up having a disadvantage in seniority had he stayed, though the decision prompted disappointment in both Buffalo and Albany.[10]

Personal life and death

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A resident of Buffalo, New York, Nowak has a daughter, Diane (Nowak) Kent, who is also in the Canisius Sports Hall of Fame, inducted in 2002.[11] His son, Henry Joseph Nowak, was elected a justice of the New York Supreme Court's 8th judicial district in 2010[12] and served as a judge of the Buffalo Housing Court from 2003 to 2010.[13][14]

Nowak died in Pompano Beach, Florida, on July 21, 2024, at the age of 89.[15][16][17]

References

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  1. ^ a b Official Congressional Directory, 102nd Congress (1991)
  2. ^ United States Congress. "Henry J. Nowak (id: N000163)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  3. ^ "Canasius basketball record book" (PDF).
  4. ^ "Canisius Mourns the Passing of Henry Nowak '57". Canisius University Athletics. July 22, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  5. ^ Brady, Erik (April 4, 2022). "Henry Nowak remembers when his 'little school from Buffalo' was an NCAA Tournament regular". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on April 4, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  6. ^ "1957 NBA Draft listing".
  7. ^ "Henry J. Nowak". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
  8. ^ "Henry J. Nowak". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
  9. ^ "Henry J. Nowak". Govtrack US Congress. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
  10. ^ a b Bureau, Jerry Zremski News Washington (July 21, 2024). "Henry Nowak, longtime Buffalo congressman and Canisius basketball star, has died". Buffalo News. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  11. ^ "Henry J. Nowak". Canisius College. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
  12. ^ "Biography of New York Judge Henry Novak".
  13. ^ Gramigna, Glenn (October 27, 2010). "Henry Nowak looks back as his son looks ahead in a life of public service". The Am-Pol Eagle. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  14. ^ Gryta, Matt (December 30, 2010). "Nowak sworn in as state judge". The Buffalo News. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  15. ^ "Former U.S. Rep. Henry Nowak, who championed western New York infrastructure, dies at 89". ABC News. July 22, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  16. ^ "Canisius Mourns the Passing of Henry Nowak '57". Go Griffs.com. Buffalo, NY: Canisius University. July 22, 2024.
  17. ^ "Henry J. Nowak's Florida Voter Registration". VoterRecords.com. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 37th congressional district
1975–1983 		Succeeded by
District 37 eliminated after the 1980 Census
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 33rd congressional district
1983–1993 		Succeeded by
District 33 eliminated after the 1990 Census and became part of 30th District
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