By Mark Scott
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-835226.mp3
Buffalo, NY – Jack Kemp, one of the Buffalo area's brightest political luminaries, died yesterday at the age of 73.
Kemp arrived in Buffalo as a brash young quarterback of the Bills in 1962. Within a few years, he would lead Buffalo to back-to-back championships in the old American Football League, earning him a spot on the Bills Wall of Fame at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
After he retired from football in 1969, Kemp decided to run for Congress. Kemp served nine terms as a representative from the Buffalo area. After that, he was named Housing Secretary by the first President Bush. And Kemp was Bob Dole's running mate in the 1996 presidential election.
Kemp was a self-described, "bleeding heart conservative."
Kemp was diagnosed with cancer in January. His family released a statement expressing Kemp's gratitude for the thoughts and prayers of so many friends during his treatment for cancer.
At the time of his death, he was the chairman of Kemp Partners, a strategic consulting firm.
Click the audio player above to hear remarks Kemp made as he introduced President Ronald Reagan during a Buffalo visit in 1984.