Henry J. Nowak | |
|---|---|
 Nowak, c. 1989 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York | |
| In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Thaddeus J. Dulski |
| Succeeded by | Jack Quinn (redistricting) |
| Constituency | 37th district (1975–1983) 33rd district (1983–1993) |
| Comptroller ofErie County, New York | |
| In office January 1, 1966 – September 11, 1974 | |
| Preceded by | Clinton C. Couhig |
| Succeeded by | Anthony P. LoRusso |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Henry James Nowak (1935-02-21)February 21, 1935 Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Died | July 21, 2024(2024-07-21) (aged 89) Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Rose Santa Lucia[1] |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Canisius College(BA) University of Buffalo(JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1957–1958 1961–1962 |
| Rank | Captain[1] |
Henry James Nowak (February 21, 1935 – July 21, 2024) was an American lawyer, politician, and aDemocratic member of theUnited States House of Representatives from New York between 1975 and 1993.
Nowak was born inBuffalo, New York, in 1935. He attended public elementary schools in Buffalo and graduated from Riverside High School, Buffalo, in 1953. He earned a B.A. fromCanisius College, Buffalo in 1957.[2]
During his college career, Nowak was a star basketball player for theGolden Griffs. When he graduated, he was Canisius College's all-time scoring leader. In three years as a starter, he scored 1,449 points and averaged 18.6 points a game. Today, he still ranks first in rebounding and third in all-time scoring.[3] As a basketball player, Nowak was nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" for his tough, aggressive playstyle.[4] Nowak led the Griffs to three of their four appearances in theNCAA basketball tournament.[5] TheSt. Louis Hawks subsequently drafted him with the 28th pick in the1957 NBA draft.[6]
From 1957 to 1958, Nowak served in theUnited States Army, then earned a J.D. from theUniversity of Buffalo Law School in 1961. He then served in the Army again from 1961 to 1962.[7]
Admitted to the New York bar in 1963, he commenced practice in Buffalo, and served as assistant district attorney of Erie County, New York in 1964. Erie County Comptroller from 1966 to 1974, he was also a delegate to the New York State Democratic convention in 1970, and to theDemocratic National Convention in 1972 and 1988.[8]
Nowak was elected as a Democrat in 1974 – among a group of liberal Democrats elected that year known as theWatergate Babies — to representNew York's 37th congressional district in the94th Congress, after 4 terms Nowak was redistricted into the33rd district, which he represented for 5 terms. He served from January 3, 1975, to January 3, 1993,[9] choosing not to try and return to the House after the 33rd district was abolished during redistricting. During his entire congressional career, he was a member of theU.S. House Committee on Public Works and Transportation. He was described inThe Buffalo News as "Buffalo's billion-dollar man", a self-effacing lawmaker mainly known for securing grants for infrastructure projects in the Buffalo area, including the construction ofInterstate 990.[10] During the103rd Congress, Nowak chose not to run for reelection in 1994.[10] With many new members anticipated in 1995 because of heavy turnover, Nowak reportedly did not want to remain in Congress so long his successor started a House career with a seniority disadvantage, though his decision to retire prompted disappointment among Democratic leaders in both Buffalo andAlbany, the state capital.[10]
A resident of Buffalo, New York, Nowak has a daughter, Diane (Nowak) Kent, who is also in the Canisius Sports Hall of Fame, inducted in 2002.[11] His son, Henry Joseph Nowak, was elected a justice of theNew York Supreme Court's 8th judicial district in 2010[12] and served as a judge of the Buffalo Housing Court from 2003 to 2010.[13][14]
Nowak died inPompano Beach, Florida, on July 21, 2024, at the age of 89.[15][16][17]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's 37th congressional district 1975–1983 | Succeeded by District 37 eliminated after the1980 Census |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's 33rd congressional district 1983–1993 | Succeeded by District 33 eliminated after the1990 Census and became part of30th District |
