2011-J4524
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of William A. Delmont, consum-
mate journalist and true public servant
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is moved to publicly mourn the passing of
prominent citizens of the State of New York whose purposeful careers and
worthy endeavors have contributed to the quality and character of life
in their communities; and
WHEREAS, William Delmont, a powerhouse in Erie County politics, trus-
tee of Erie Community College, founder of the Front Page newspapers and
senior executive assistant to the former Erie County Executive, died on
Saturday, April 28, 2012, at the age of 81; and
WHEREAS, A native and lifelong resident of Lackawanna, Mr. Delmont was
a graduate of Lackawanna High School, attended Canisius College and was
a member of the United States Navy and served during the Korean War; and
WHEREAS, William Delmont served as county chairman of the Conservative
Party from 1991 to 1994; he was senior executive assistant to Erie Coun-
ty Executive Dennis Gorski from 1995 to 1999, working as liaison with
the county's 29 cities and towns to promote efficiency and fix problems
among the municipalities; and
WHEREAS, A key adviser to the mayor of Buffalo in 2005 and member of
the Erie County Conservative Party's executive board, William Delmont
founded the Front Page Group Inc. in 1959, publishing and editing weekly
newspapers serving South Buffalo, Lackawanna, West Seneca, Blasdell and
Hamburg; he managed all aspects of the newspapers, which became the
official newspapers for publication of legal notices of Erie County,
Lackawanna, the Town of Hamburg and Blasdell; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Delmont sold the Front Page in 2010, but retained his
status as publisher and editor until the time of his death; a trustee of
Erie Community College, he served on the board of directors of Our Lady
of Victory Hospital in Lackawanna from 1982 to 1998 and was a state
civil service commissioner from 1972 to 1991; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Delmont was a commissioner of the Lackawanna Municipal
Housing Authority from 1958 to 1970, serving as its chairman for six
years; he also was Lackawanna's director of civil defense and head of
disaster preparedness from 1964-1965; and
WHEREAS, William Delmont was a 45-year member of Matthew Glab Post
1477, American Legion, and was a fourth-degree member of the Knights of
Columbus; he also was the recipient of numerous awards, including the
Lackawanna Front Page Man of the Year Award for 2011 and the Lackawanna
Area Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award for 2006; and
WHEREAS, Among organizations honoring William Delmont for community
service are the following: Lake Erie Club, Lackawanna Area Historical
Association, Our Lady of Victory Hospital, South Park High School,
Matthew Glab Post 1477, Bishop Timon High School Alumni, American Legion
of New York, American Lung Association of Western New York, Limestone
Club, Western New York Association of Youth Bureaus, Buffalo Chamber of
Commerce, South Buffalo Amateur Hockey Association, Shooter Committee on
Political Education (SCOPE), Kidney Foundation of Western New York, Col.
John B. Weber Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 898 and the National Police
Officers Association of America; and
WHEREAS, Predeceased by his wife, Mary Ann, William Delmont is
survived by his six children, Kathy, Kim, Noreen, Lynne, Mary and Phil-
lip; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, William Delmont leaves behind a legacy which will long
endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all
he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of William A. Delmont, consummate journalist and true
public servant; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of William A. Delmont.