Chester A. Kowal
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Chester A. Kowal | |
|---|---|
Mayor of Buffalo | |
| In office January 1, 1962 – December 31, 1965 | |
| Preceded by | Frank A. Sedita |
| Succeeded by | Frank A. Sedita |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 17, 1904 Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Died | September 28, 1966 (aged 62) Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Stephanie Adamski |
| Children | 2 |
| [1] | |
Chester A. Kowal (August 17, 1904 – September 28, 1966) was an American politician, a basketball player, a boxer and a World War II veteran. From 1962 to 1965 he was mayor of Buffalo, New York; he was the last non-Democratic mayor of that city until Byron Brown temporarily switched parties in 2021.[2]
He was born into a
Canisius College in Buffalo in order to play professionally to earn money. He played with the once world champion German Orioles and the Buffalo Lincolns basketball teams, and also played semi-pro baseball with the Easter Brands. He boxed with the Western New York AAU and was a contender for the U.S. Olympic boxing team. He was married to a Polish-American woman, Stephanie Adamski. His family started Walden Bottling Works in 1924; he managed the company in his spare time.[2]
In late 1942, he enlisted in the
lieutenant-colonel. He was active in veterans organizations.[2]
In 1951, Kowal was elected Buffalo city comptroller on the Republican ticket. He was defeated in his run for mayor in the 1957 election by Frank A. Sedita, but prevailed in the mayoral election held on November 7, 1961. He served a single term as mayor. On September 28, 1966, he died in his sleep.[2]
References
- ISBN 978-1-4116-3757-3.
- ^ a b c d "Chester A. Kowal". Through The Mayor's Eyes, The Only Complete History of the Mayor's of Buffalo, New York, Compiled by Michael Rizzo. The Buffalonian is produced by The Peoples History Union. 2009-05-27. Archived from the original on 2008-10-07. Retrieved 2009-06-09.