Uncrowned Community Builders

John H. Hackney was born in Buffalo, New York on September 12, 1929 at Children's Hospital. He was the first son and fourth child of John, Sr. and Mary J. Hackney, in a family of six children. John attended elementary schools #32 and #31. He graduated from Fosdick Masten Park High School and then attended the University at Buffalo. He became the University's second Black student to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and licensed to practice pharmacy in New York State.

He also holds the distinction of earning a Masters in Business Administration (MBA). As a graduate student, he was employed by the University of Buffalo to instruct in Pharmacy Lab. After working at several local drug stores as a pharmacist, and feeling somewhat incomplete, John went to work for the Health Department of New York State at Roswell Park Memorial (Cancer) Institute in 1954 as a laboratory technician. He retired 37 ½ years later as Cancer Research Scientist in 1992. During his tenure, he authored, co-authored or assisted with several scientific papers which were published in scholarly journals.

John's community involvement and service started young, as a Cub Scout, Scout and Air Scout, at the Chapel on Cedar Street and continued with many undertakings through out his adult life. He had a lifelong fascination with flying and built many model planes. He was a charter member of the Clarence Flying Club and a member of Chapter 46, Experimental Aircraft Association.

Some of his current community activities include: Chaplin, Black Leadership Forum; Treasurer, Southern Christian Leadership Conference; Commissioner, Buffalo Environmental Management Commission; Life member and Treasurer, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity; Charter member of Near East and Westside Community Health Task Force; two decades of volunteer service, United Way of Western New York; member, Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME); Life member of the NAACP.

Mr. Hackney is an active 80-year member of Trinity Baptist church, where his parents were wed and where he currently serves as a Deacon. He also serves as the Treasurer, Trustee and Superintendent of the Sunday School, and a facilitator of the mid-week prayer meeting. Additionally, John is currently President of the Deacon's Alliance of Western New York, Inc.

Mr. Hackney and his late wife, Wanda, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2004. Mrs. Hackney died in 2010. They are the proud parents of four children, (all college graduates), seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

As a very young boy, John was fascinated by airplanes and built many rubber-band powered, balsa wood, flying models; advancing to models powered by small gasoline engines. Today, a chartered member (part owner) of a small airstrip in Amherst, New York, known as the Clarence Flying Club, Inc., he has purchased the material for a full sized man carrying airplane which he plans to build. John says, "Hope Springs Eternal"; "Keep the Faith."

John H. Hackney's life journey has been one of dedication and achievement and if he says he will build it, it will fly.