Northrup R. Knox
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| Northrup R. Knox | |
| Born | December 24, 1928 Buffalo, NY |
|---|---|
| Died | July 15, 1998 (aged 69) East Aurora, NY |
| Occupation | Sports Executive |
| Spouse | Lucetta |
| Children | Linda Knox McLean, and Northrup R. Knox, Jr. |
| Parents | Seymour H. Knox II and Helen Northrup |
|
Northrup R. Knox (born December 24, 1928 in Buffalo, New York – died July 15, 1998 East Aurora, New York), was a Buffalo banker, sportsman, and community leader who, along with his brother Seymour, brought the National Hockey League franchise the Buffalo Sabres to Buffalo, New York. Knox is the third generation of the Knox family to serve as chairman of Marine Midland Bank and its predecessors. His father Seymour H. Knox II and grandfather Seymour H. Knox I also served as chairmen. He was also a past chairman of the Buffalo Sabres.
[edit] Buffalo Sabres
With his brother Seymour H. Knox III, he presented an application October 19, 1965 to obtain a National Hockey League expansion team in 1967, but was rebuffed. In 1968, the NHL Board of Governors rejected their agreement to move the Oakland Seals to Buffalo pending league approval. Finally, on December 2, 1969 the league announced its decision to expand to Buffalo and Vancouver for the 1970-71 season. Knox was a principal owner of the Buffalo Sabres from from their foundation as a National Hockey League franchise in 1970 until a few months before his death.
[edit] Buffalo Sports
The Knox Brothers were the impetus behind the establishment of the Buffalo Bandits of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League in 1991 and the Buffalo Blizzard of the National Professional Soccer League in 1992.
The brothers also brought their vision of a state of the art sports and entertainment complex originally named the Marine Midland Arena and now called the HSBC Arena to life. The 20,000 seat complex was completed in 1996 and is located at 1 Seymour H. Knox, III Plaza on the waterfront in downtown Buffalo. It is the home of the Buffalo Sabres and the Buffalo Bandits as well as the former home of the Buffalo Blizzard and Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League.
The Knox brothers, who brought major league hockey to Buffalo, were inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 1992 and into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame in 1996. Northrup Knox was survived by his wife Lucetta; a daughter, Linda Knox McLean, a son, Northrup R. Jr and five grandchildren, Richard, Lisa, and Arthur Schmon, Charles and Northrup Knox III.
[edit] Polo
The Buffalo-born-and-bred sportsman was chairman and governor of the U.S. Polo Association and a captain of the U.S. polo team (1966 and 1969) in international play (including the Cup of the Americas in Buenos Aires)[1]. He was also World Champion of court tennis from 1959 to 1969, retiring undefeated.
