Photo by: Buffalo Bills
Al Bemiller Inducted into Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame
7/13/2015 4:32:00 PM | Football
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Former Orange football and wrestling great Al Bemiller was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame last month. Bemiller was one of 12 individuals in the 2015 class, which was recognized at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center in downtown Buffalo.
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Bemiller came to Syracuse University as a wrestler in the late 1950s, but soon after accepted an offer from legendary head coach Ben Schwartzwalder to join the football team. In 1959, Bemiller started along the offensive line and blocked for Ernie Davis, helping Syracuse to an undefeated season and the national championship. He earned All-East and third-team All-America honors the following year as a senior co-captain for the Orange.
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Bemiller was selected in the seventh round of the 1961 draft by the NFL's St. Louis Cardinals and the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League (AFL). The Hanover, Pa. native worked his way into the starting lineup as a rookie for the Bills and was a crucial part of their 1964 and 1965 AFL title-winning teams. A 1965 AFL All-Star, Bemiller played in every game during his nine-year professional football career. He retired in 1970.
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After his retirement, Bemiller remained an active member of the Western New York community. He served as the head wrestling coach at St. Francis High School in Athol Springs for several years and was a long-time high school football and wrestling official. In 2013, he earned the Ralph C. Wilson Distinguished Service Award from the Monday Quarterback Club.
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Bemiller came to Syracuse University as a wrestler in the late 1950s, but soon after accepted an offer from legendary head coach Ben Schwartzwalder to join the football team. In 1959, Bemiller started along the offensive line and blocked for Ernie Davis, helping Syracuse to an undefeated season and the national championship. He earned All-East and third-team All-America honors the following year as a senior co-captain for the Orange.
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Bemiller was selected in the seventh round of the 1961 draft by the NFL's St. Louis Cardinals and the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League (AFL). The Hanover, Pa. native worked his way into the starting lineup as a rookie for the Bills and was a crucial part of their 1964 and 1965 AFL title-winning teams. A 1965 AFL All-Star, Bemiller played in every game during his nine-year professional football career. He retired in 1970.
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After his retirement, Bemiller remained an active member of the Western New York community. He served as the head wrestling coach at St. Francis High School in Athol Springs for several years and was a long-time high school football and wrestling official. In 2013, he earned the Ralph C. Wilson Distinguished Service Award from the Monday Quarterback Club.
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