Ben M. Becker was a longtime resident of Albany, New York. He was an avid educator, active community participant in youth sports and served as an Olympic Manager and Boxing Coach who shaped the lives of many young adults.
Ben Becker was raised in Albany, NY, attended Cortland State Teachers College (1928) and was considered a talented and versatile athlete-participating in soccer, baseball, football, lacrosse, and boxing. He served as a boxing coach at SUNY Cortland. Later, Ben Becker served in US Olympic Boxing organizations, served in the military, and worked in Schuyler High School (now known as Albany High School) until the end of his career. He co-founded Big Brothers of Albany, NY in the 1950’s and was active in the Albany County Cerebral Palsy Association.
The Ben M. Becker Memorial Scholarship Fund at the State University of New York (SUNY) was established by the Becker Foundation to provide an annual financial award to a graduating senior at Albany High School who is accepted to a SUNY college, shows financial need, participates in interscholastic athletics, and most importantly, possesses an outstanding academic record. This award can be used at any of the 64 SUNY campuses.
The Office of University Life works with Albany High School to select recipients of this award on an annual basis.
More info on Ben Becker is available at the Cortland Athletics Hall of Fame website: http://www.cortlandreddragons.com/hof.aspx?hof=13&path=&kiosk=