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Honoring Millard Fillmore

President John Simpson at Millard Fillmore event
WBFO News photo by Ashley Hassett
President John Simpson at Millard Fillmore event

By Ashley Hassett

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-944248.mp3

Buffalo, NY – University at Buffalo President John Simpson and members of the community gathered Friday to commemorate the life of former President Millard Fillmore.

The 211th anniversary celebration took place along his grave site in Forest Lawn cemetery.

Fillmore was instrumental in the creation of a number of prime establishments in the Buffalo community during his lifetime in Buffalo. He founded the Buffalo public school system and UB.

Simpson quoted Fillmore by speaking about his commitment to the city of Buffalo.

'While our fortunate location has attracted multitudes to swell our population who's industry has built and adorned our city and who's enterprise and wealth have spread our commerce over the great inland sea's of the west. Are literary institutions and especially those of a higher character have been sadly neglected.'

"Fillmore thus you'd see had a strong commitment to fostering public institutions that became and are the corner stones of Buffalo's civic life," said Simpson.

UB Associate Dean, Larry Gingrich said we should not over look nor should we forget that Millard Fillmore recognized the importance of access, and the value of higher education for citizens of Buffalo.

Gingrich noted Fillmore provided extraordinary leadership that was instrumental in creation of The Buffalo education system.

"We should not over look nor should we forget that Millard Fillmore recognized the importance of access, and the value of higher education for citizens of Buffalo and Western New York," said Gingrich.