The Conservative Forum of Erie County is planning a major tribute to former congressman and Buffalo Bills quarterback Jack Kemp on Saturday, March 14, at 6 p.m. at the Clubhouse at Diamond Hawk at 255 Sonwil Dr. in Cheektowaga.
Erie County Conservative Party Chairman Ralph Lorigo said Jimmy Kemp, a former CFL quarterback and the son of the late congressman will be on hand for the tribute to his father, the second annual event by the Conservative Forum which is the party's outreach network to the business community.
Among those expected for the special tribute are State Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long, political consultant Roger Stone who served as an adviser to the Jack Kemp for president campaign in 1987, and former Kemp staffers Ed Rutkowski and Russ Gugino. Rutkowski is also a former Erie County executive.
Also scheduled is a video presentation by Charles Krauthammer, a syndicated columnist and political commentator for Fox News. Krauthammer was paralyzed in a diving-board accident during his first year of medical school at Harvard Medical School, but will make his presentation at the Kemp event by videotape.
Gugino, a close associate of Diamond Hawk restaurant and golf club owner Sam Tadio, is helping to coordinate the event for his former political mentor.
Jack Kemp served 18 years as a congressman from Western New York (31st District) and also served as housing secretary in the cabinet of President George H. W. Bush from 1989 to 1993. He was the Republican nominee for vice president in 1996 on the ticket with Robert Dole.
During his professional football career, Kemp won two championships with the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League in the 1960s and was a co-founder and later president of the AFL Players Association.
For information on the event honoring Jack Kemp, contact the Erie County Conservative Party at 716-826-6814.