Bill Stachowski's Biography
Senator William T. Stachowski, Democrat, was born in Buffalo, New York, on February 14, 1949. He attended St. Bernard’s Roman Catholic Grammar School and Bishop Ryan High School, where he graduated with honors (Bishop Brzana Chapter). During his four years in high school, he was a three letter man with honors in baseball, football and basketball, including being the captain of the basketball team in his junior and senior years. He was named Scholastic Athlete of the Year in 1967.
Senator Stachowski attended the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester Mass., where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. Additional courses included history, philosophy, civil rights, English, classics and economics. He graduated in 1972.
His extracurricular activities were centered around the college football team. As a senior he was elected captain of the varsity team and received the James Davit Award as the outstanding member of the defensive secondary. He was also selected as a second team defensive back on the All-New England squad in 1971.
Senator Stachowski’s past selected work experience includes a role as a teacher/counselor at St. Ann’s Roman Catholic School in Buffalo. The Senator was also an assistant football coach at St. Francis High School in Athol Springs. He also assisted his father in the management of the family retail liquor store.
Bill Stachowski was named to the Erie County Legislature (3rd District) on December 26, 1974, to fill a vacancy left by Dennis Gorski who moved to the State Assembly. He served in the Legislature until November 20, 1981, when he replaced then Senator Raymond Gallagher (56th District). He is presently the representative of the 58th District in the State Senate. Which includes the Towns of Eden, Cheektowaga, Hamburg, West Seneca, the City of Lackawanna, and parts of the City of Buffalo.
His political involvement consists of membership in the Erie County Democratic Party (1967 to present), and Goin’ South Democratic Club.
Senator Stachowski is presently the Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business Committee. His leadership in the Democratic Majority is reflected in his role as the Assistant Majority Leader for House Operations.
The Senator is a member of many organizations. Including the Southtowns Walleye Association; Erie County Fire Chief’s Mutual Aid Organization; Friends of the Buffalo River; Everywoman Opportunity Center; the Child Care Coalition; Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Servicemen’s Park; Buffalo Bills Monday Quarterback Club; the Charles Burchfield Nature & Art Center, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, and the Cheektowaga Chamber of Commerce. He is also a past board member of the Buffalo Hearing and Speech Center, the S.P.S. Health Care Advisory Board and a former trustee for St. Mary’s School for the Deaf in Buffalo. He is a Charter Member of the South Buffalo Community Table Century Club.
He was the 1990 recipient of the New York State Sheriff’s Award, “Friend of Law Enforcement”, and the 1993 recipient of the Hilbert College Fellows Medal. Other awards include the 1988 Legislator of the Year Award from the Southtowns Walleye Association; the 1993 Am-Pol Eagle Newspaper Citizen of the Year (Politics); the 1995 Political Award from the Region #9 United Auto Workers; and the 1996 Community Service Award from the Neighborhood Information Center, along with the General Pulaski Association 1999 Community Service Award. He was the 2007 Honoree of the NYS Rifle & Pistol Association, and was honored with the Legislator of the Year Award in 2009 by the Shooters Committee on Political Education( SCOPE). Senator Stachowski received the 2009 University at Buffalo's "Reaching Others Award" which is given to a person(s) who has helped the university work with various external partners on behalf of the broader community. In 2009, Voted Legislator of the Year by Shooter's Committee On Political Education (S.C.O.P.E.) In 2010 he was honored by the National Federation for Just Communities of Western New York, NFJC, at their Annual Community Leader Awards Luncheon for his outstanding contributions to community service.
Senator Stachowski is Co-Chairman of the Mayor’s Anti-Flipping Task Force, and sits on the the Ilio DiPaolo Scholarship Committee. He is a former Director for the Hunter’s Hope Foundation, and currently serves as a member of the Foundation’s Community Advisory Board. Senator Stachowski was inducted into the J.F.K. Touch Football League Hall of Fame in 1997, and was a 1999 inductee into the Western New York Softball Hall of Fame. He is also a volunteer Football Coach at St. Francis High School in Athol Springs, New York. Besides his standing committee assignments, he was appointed to the Legislative Commission on the Development of Rural Resources, the NYS Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus and the planning committee for the future Buffalo Film Commission. Bill Stachowski represents the Senate Majority as one of five voting members of the New York State Public Authorities Control Board.
Standing Committee Assignments 2009: Chairman: Commerce, Economic Development & Small Business; Finance; Rules; Agriculture; Insurance; Investigations & Government Operations; Labor; Racing Gaming & Wagering.
