SUNY Erie Community College Welcomes Buffalo Bills Legend Ed Rutkowski for Special Presentation Celebrating Historic Partnership

SUNY Erie President Dr. Adiam Tsegai recieving photo from Ed Rutkowski with a crowd of students.

SUNY Erie Community College hosted Buffalo Bills legend and former Erie County Executive Ed Rutkowski for a special presentation at its South Campus on Tuesday, October 21, celebrating the longstanding connection between the Buffalo Bills and SUNY Erie.

During the event, Rutkowski presented SUNY Erie President Dr. Adiam Tsegai with a framed photograph taken at Highmark Stadium, featuring the five surviving members of the 1964 American Football League (AFL) Championship Team alongside Mary Wilson, wife of the late Ralph C. Wilson Jr., founder and longtime owner of the Buffalo Bills.

The photographed members of the historic 1964 team:

Butch Byrd, Cornerback
Wray Carlton, Running Back
Booker Edgerson, Cornerback and former SUNY Erie Director of Affirmative Action
Paul Maguire, Linebacker/Punter
Ed Rutkowski, Quarterback

“Today’s presentation not only celebrates a championship legacy, it also symbolizes the shared history and lasting connection between SUNY Erie and the Buffalo Bills,” said Dr. Tsegai. “For decades, our South Campus has stood just down the road from where legends were made. And now, as the new stadium rises nearby, we are proud to once again play a supporting role providing space, resources, and partnership that contribute to something greater than any one institution or team."

Beyond his success on the field, Rutkowski made a lasting impact on Western New York through his public service. As Erie County Executive (1979–1987), he played a pivotal role in establishing SUNY Erie’s City Campus within Buffalo’s historic Old Post Office, helping to preserve one of the city’s architectural landmarks while expanding access to higher education.

Reflecting on that decision, Rutkowski shared,

“When I was County Executive, the old post office downtown was going to be demolished. There was a big uproar because many years earlier, a Frank Lloyd Wright building in Buffalo had been torn down, and people were still upset about that loss. Members of the Erie County Legislature — Len Lanahan, Minnie Gillette, and Joan Bozer — came into my office and said we shouldn’t tear it down; we should make it a community college. It was their efforts that led to the downtown college being established in the old post office. I was fortunate to sign the legislation that put it into effect.”

Booker Edgerson, also among the honored 1964 team members, contributed significantly to SUNY Erie’s mission off the field as the college’s Director of Affirmative Action, promoting equity, inclusion, and access across all campuses. Reflecting on his time at SUNY Erie, Edgerson said,

“I really contribute my success to ECC, and I always talk about that when I speak to different people—about the jobs that I held before I retired.”

The event also recognized Mary Wilson for her ongoing philanthropic leadership as Life Trustee of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, which continues to strengthen Western New York through initiatives in youth sports, community development, and higher education.

As the new Buffalo Bills stadium nears completion, SUNY Erie’s South Campus has played a vital role in supporting construction efforts by providing staging space and parking to assist the team throughout the process. The presentation underscored the historic partnership between SUNY Erie and the Buffalo Bills—one that continues to reflect the college’s commitment to community collaboration and regional pride.