Retrospective
Twenty years ago — 1999
Cornelius Bennett says he and his former Buffalo Bills teammates partied away their chances of winning any of the four Super Bowls they lost in the early 1990s. He called the Bills that dominated the AFC from 1990 to 1993 the “party team of the 1990s” and “world-class party people.” Bennett said the overindulgent late nights may not have been the sole reason for the Bills’ losses, but they didn’t help. “Everyone tried to outdo everyone,” Bennett said. “I don’t want to name names, but what we did was cheat ourselves and the Buffalo fans. I look back now and think of it as wasted opportunities.”
Thirty years ago — 1989
A People in Profile features Erla Mae Staton, a clown with the Dunkirk Moose Club for the last three years. Mrs. Staton said it was a lifelong dream to be a real clown. As a teenager, she idolized the famous Emmett Kelly and even saw him perform with the Barnum and Bailey Circus. When she got the opportunity to join the Dunkirk group and participate as a clown, veteran clowns Fred Bartin and Raymond “Lefty” Adamowicz helped her learn to put her makeup on and gave her special tips on entertaining children.
Forty years ago — 1979
Kevin Bruce Kochersberger, 18-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kochersberger of Sinclairville, has been named Student of the Week. Kevin is a senior at Cassadaga Valley Central School and ranks third in his class. He currently serves as president of the National Honor Society, vice president of the Student Council and editor-in-chief of the CVCS newspaper, “Cougar Beat.” After graduation, he plans to attend college and major in some form of engineering.
Fifty years ago — 1969
Dunkirk High School basketball coach Al Stuhlmiller isn’t resting on his laurels. In his 14th season as Marauder coach, he watched his team defeat rival Fredonia High, 57-44, to mark his 100th victory in Dunkirk. With No. 100 in the bag, most coaches would sit down and look back over the past seasons, picking out the high and low points in the string. Not Stuhlmiller, however. He has already started in his bid for the next 100, crediting the feeder program, filming and rivalries as three reasons why Dunkirk basketball has been on the upswing in recent years.