Seymour H. Knox III

Seymour Horace Knox III
Seymour Horace Knox III
Born	Template:Birth date; Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Died	May 22, 1996 (aged 70)
Occupation(s)	Philanthropist, sports executive
Known for	Owner and chairman of the Buffalo Sabres (1970–1996)

Seymour Horace Knox III (March 9, 1926 – May 22, 1996) was a prominent American philanthropist and sports executive. He held ownership of the Buffalo Sabres in the National Hockey League from their inception in 1970 until his passing in 1996, acting as chairman throughout. Knox was the grandson of Seymour H. Knox I, a co-founder of the F.W. Woolworth Company, and the son of art benefactor Seymour H. Knox II.

Early life and education

Knox was born in 1926 in Buffalo, New York to parents Seymour H. Knox II and Helen Northrup. His lineage traced back to a family that combined their five-and-dime stores with those of relatives Frank Winfield and Charles Woolworth, culminating in the creation of the F. W. Woolworth Company.

He received his education at St. Paul's School before earning degrees from both Yale University and Columbia University. During World War II, Knox served honorably as a Corporal in the United States Army Field Artillery.

Career

Knox held the position of vice president at Dominick & Dominick Inc., one of America’s longest-standing financial services firms, established in 1870.

Hockey

Together with his brother Northrup R. Knox and legal counsel Robert O. Swados, he submitted an application on October 19, 1965, seeking an expansion franchise for the National Hockey League in 1967. Although their initial request was declined, they were ultimately successful when the NHL expanded by two teams for the 1970–71 season: the Vancouver Canucks and the Buffalo franchise led by Knox and Swados. Seymour Knox III suggested naming the team "Sabres," symbolizing a balance of offensive power and defensive strength.

By 1975, under his leadership, the Buffalo Sabres advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals, earning Knox recognition as The Hockey News executive of the year. He maintained a seat on the NHL's Board of Governors for a quarter-century and served as a director for the US Hockey Hall of Fame. From their establishment until his death in 1996, Knox remained a principal owner of the Sabres. His contributions were honored with induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993, followed by a posthumous award of the Lester Patrick Trophy in 1997.

Other Buffalo sports

The Knox siblings also played instrumental roles in founding the Buffalo Bandits (Major Indoor Lacrosse League, 1991) and the Buffalo Blizzard (National Professional Soccer League, 1992). They led efforts to develop Marine Midland Arena (currently known as KeyBank Center), an 18,690-seat venue completed in 1996 located in downtown Buffalo. This arena serves as home to the Sabres and Bandits and previously hosted teams such as the Blizzard and Buffalo Destroyers (Arena Football League).

Personal life

On May 16, 1954, Knox wed Jean Read, daughter of William Augustus Read, in Greenwich, Connecticut. Jean was an alumna of the Chapin School and made her social debut in Boston in 1952. The couple had four children:

Seymour Knox IV, former president of Friends of Knox Farm State Park, who married Constance Jewell in 1989.
W. A. Read Knox, married to Shannon Sullivan.
Avery Fabyan Knox (born 1957), a Yale graduate specializing in art history, who married Nancy Ableson in 1988.
Helen Knox, who wed Robert G. Keilholtz Jr. in 1993.

As a dedicated philanthropist, Knox contributed extensively to various organizations within Greater Buffalo including the Chamber of Commerce, United Way, and Children's Foundation of Erie County. His personal interests included tennis, squash, and polo.

Knox passed away on May 22, 1996. Congressional tributes were given by Senators Daniel P. Moynihan and Representatives John J. LaFalce and Jack Quinn during sessions honoring his memory.

Legacy

In recognition of their contributions, the Knox brothers were honored with induction into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 1992, followed by their inclusion in the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame in 1996.

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