Uncrowned Community Builders

A native of Washington, D.C., Ernest "Ernie" Warlick grew up in Hickory, N.C. Warlick completed his formative education in the public schools, graduating from Ridgeview High School in Hickory before continuing his education at North Carolina Central University. He graduated from NCCU, where he starred in football and basketball. Following college he served four years in the military. Before coming to Buffalo, he played four seasons in Canada. Warlick was an all-star with the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League before he signed with the Bills of the old American Football League in 1962.

Warlick was a member of the 1964 and 1965 AFL championship teams, catching a touchdown pass from Jack Kemp in the '65 title game for the only offensive touchdown in a 23-0 victory over the San Diego Chargers. He was selected to the American Football League all-star team in each of his four seasons with the Bills.

After Warlick retired from the Bills, he became a sports reporter at Channel 2 for a few years. He was the first African-American sportscaster in Western New York. In 1998, he was inducted into the Buffalo Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame. Warlick also owned a Henry's Hamburger franchise on Main Street for a while, and was regional sales manager for Chromate Industrials of Long Island. He was active in the Buffalo Bills alumni organization. He was awarded the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Distinguished Service Award for his community work with the alumni association.

He was 82 at the time of his death and was survived by his wife of nearly 52 years, the former Louise Alexander; two sons, Chester and Christopher; a daughter, Lynn Warlick-Sloof; and a sister, Sally.