Henry J. Nowak

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

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.

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. As a basketball player, Nowak was nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" for his tough, aggressive playstyle. Nowak led the Griffs to three of their four appearances in the NCAA basketball tournament. The St. Louis Hawks subsequently drafted him with the 28th pick in the 1957 NBA draft.

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.

Political career

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.

Congress

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, 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. During the 103rd Congress, Nowak chose not to run for reelection in 1994. With many new members anticipated in 1995 because of heavy turnover, Nowak reportedly did not want to remain in Congress so long his successor started a House career with a seniority disadvantage, though his decision to retire prompted disappointment among Democratic leaders in both Buffalo and Albany, the state capital.

Personal life and death

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. His son, Henry Joseph Nowak, was elected a justice of the New York Supreme Court's 8th judicial district in 2010 and served as a judge of the Buffalo Housing Court from 2003 to 2010.

Nowak died in Pompano Beach, Florida, on July 21, 2024, at the age of 89.

References

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Nowak, Henry J.
1935 births
2024 deaths
Politicians from Buffalo, New York
Canisius Golden Griffins men's basketball players
University at Buffalo Law School alumni
United States Army officers
American politicians of Polish descent
Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state)
Lawyers from Buffalo, New York
American men's basketball players
Canisius University alumni
20th-century New York (state) politicians
20th-century American sportsmen
20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives