Hall of Fame
Kenneth Schoetz '74 played offensive tackle during the Crusader football team's famous "Streak", and extraordinary 42-0-1 record complied between 1972 and 1977. In Ken's senior year, he was one of the captains of the undefeated Burke League championship team that went 8-0.
The same year, Ken was named to the All-Catholic first team, All-WNY first team, the All-state second team, and the Prep All-American Football Team selected by national sports writers and published by Coach & Athlete Magazine. Even with all these accomplishments, Ken says the greatest highlight of his football career may be what coach Richard "Bus" Werder '41 said of him,
"The paper quoted Coach Werder as saying I was the best offensive tackle he had seen in 22 years of coaching," Ken recalls. "Coach Werder was like a second father to me and I will always be grateful for that."
Ken went on to play football for four years at Williams College in Massachusetts. Upon graduation, Ken received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Buffalo Law School where he was editor-in-chief of the Buffalo Law Review.
His law career began as an associate for Moot and Sprague where he specialized in commercial litigation. He was later appointed first assistant County Attorney by Erie County Executive Dennis Gorski and County Attorney, a post he held for seven years. During that time, he commenced the county's landmark litigation against the tobacco industry, securing a $548 million award for residents. He also oversaw lease negotiations for First Niagara Center and negotiated the county's 15-year lease of Ralph Wilson Stadium with the Buffalo Bills.
He returned to private practice with Phillips Lytle and was then appointed to lead the New York State Attorney General's regional office in Buffalo. Ken was appointed Chief Operating Officer of the Empire State Development Corporation and served in a variety of economic developent positions under three governors.
