Stanley M. "Stan" Makowski (April 22, 1923 – August 5, 1981) was

Mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well as ...

of the City of

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York (behind only New York City) and the seat of Erie County. It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, and is across the Canadian border from Sou ...

, serving 1974–1977.

Early life

He was born in Buffalo on April 22, 1923, as the younger of two children of

Polish immigrants Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Poles, people from Poland or of Polish descent * Polish chicken *Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin screen ...

. He dropped out of Hutchinson Central High School and served six months with the

Civilian Conservation Corps The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a voluntary government work relief program that ran from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men ages 18–25 and eventually expanded to ages 17–28. The CCC was a major part o ...

. In 1943, he joined the Army and served three years during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

, including an eight-month tour on

Iwo Jima Iwo Jima (, also ), known in Japan as , is one of the Japanese Volcano Islands and lies south of the Bonin Islands. Together with other islands, they form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The highest point of Iwo Jima is Mount Suribachi at high. ...

. After the war, he earned his high school diploma and attended

Cornell University Cornell University is a private statutory land-grant research university based in Ithaca, New York. It is a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell was founded with the intention to ...

, where he received a certificate from the

New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations The New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University (ILR) is an industrial relations school and one of the four New York State contract colleges at Cornell University, located in Ithaca, New York, United States. The ...

, and night school at Millard Fillmore College at the University of Buffalo.

Career

In 1959, he accepted appointment to the at-large seat on the Common Council, when

Thaddeus J. Dulski Thaddeus Joseph Dulski (September 27, 1915 – October 11, 1988) was an American congressman who represented the state of New York from 1959 to 1974. Biography Dulski was born in Buffalo, New York, USA on September 27, 1915. He graduated from ...

was elected to Congress. In 1969, Makowski ran as the

Democratic Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

candidate for Erie County executive; he was defeated in the general election by

B. John Tutuska B. John Tutuska (December 4, 1911 – July 30, 1993) was the second county executive in Erie County, New York, serving from 1969 to 1971. The Depew, New York-born Tutuska succeeded Edward C. Rath in 1969 after Rath died in office. Prior t ...

. In 1972, the Common Council created the post of deputy mayor and Makowski was the first appointed, serving under Mayor

Frank A. Sedita Frank Albert Sedita (June 20, 1907 – May 2, 1975) was an American attorney and politician who served as the 56th and 58th mayor of Buffalo, New York. Early life and education He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on June 20, 1907. His family ...

. Upon Mayor Sedita's resignation of March 5, 1973, Makowski became mayor. He was elected as mayor on November 6, 1973. During his term, the Buffalo Convention Center was constructed, as was the Marine Midland Center. On January 28, 1977, a most disastrous blizzard struck Buffalo and Western New York. He served just one term as mayor (in addition to the final 10 months of Mayor Sedita's 3rd term).

Personal life

He married Florence Ziolo on August 7, 1954. He died on August 5, 1981 and was buried in St. Stanislaus Cemetery in

Cheektowaga, New York Cheektowaga () is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 census, the town has grown to a population of 89,877. The town is in the north-central part of the county, and is an inner ring suburb of Buffalo. The town is the ...

References

1923 births 1981 deaths Military personnel from Buffalo, New York Mayors of Buffalo, New York American politicians of Polish descent Civilian Conservation Corps people Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations alumni New York (state) Democrats 20th-century American politicians Buffalo Common Council members United States Army personnel of World War II {{BuffaloNY-stub