Renaissance Man

Seymour H. Knox IV outside the Albright-Knox Art Gallery

By Kyle R. Patterson

Seymour H. Knox IV is no stranger in Buffalo, after all his family name is all over the city from Knox Farms State Park, to the internationally renowned Albright-Knox Art Gallery, to the street named after his late father on which HSBC Arena resides. Catching up with Seymour recently we chatted about life as a Knox, business in Buffalo, and what his day to day life consists of. 

Knox, a clean cut, well connected entrepreneur in his mid fifties, is carrying on his family tradition of business, art, sports, and charity in Buffalo, one venture at a time. This kind of involvement in the culture runs in his family line from when his great-grandfather merged his more than 100 five and dime stores to form the F.W. Woolworth Company, to his grandfather’s leading role in the modernist art movement and progressive culture, to his father and uncle’s entrepreneurial spirit and love of sports that inspired them to create  the Sabres.  Knox IV didn’t fall far from the tree, from coaching hockey and squash, to running a consulting business, to his relentless advocacy of the arts in Buffalo and love of Buffalo’s waterfront, Knox is a regular chip of the old block. You see, Knox believes everything that comes across his office on West Tupper happens for a reason and he isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty and try his shot at something new. His thought- nothing ventured is nothing gained. That is the Knox philosophy- I am learning- not being afraid to take risks and thinking outside the box about his and our city’s future. He after all has to make a living, pay for his kids college education, and invest in new and emerging businesses in Buffalo to make a living, even as a Knox. His company, BPG Global, works with high net worth individuals in succession planning and other financial matters, yet his open hearted attitude in business connects him with people from all walks of life sharing a common do-gooder desire for Buffalo and beyond. Catching up with Seymour recently at Spot coffee he reflected on his years with the Sabres and his love of the game, his passion for art, boating, the restoration of Buffalo’s waterfront, and his dream of turning Buffalo into a cultural icon for generations to come.

His latest project is a budding rowing club, The Buffalo Scholastic Rowing Association, at 301 Ohio Street on the Buffalo River where he plans to provide additional opportunities and access to Buffalo’s waterfront for all types of boat hobbyists and competitors. The company’s first customer is The Buffalo Seminary and according to Seymour, rowing has had tremendous growth across the country in recent years. Interestingly at the turn of the century there were over ten clubs in Buffalo and until the launch of Knox’s venture this past spring there had been only West Side Rowing. He looks at his latest venture not as competing with West Side Rowing but as an alternative site similar to a city having multiple hockey rinks, a place for people to come and enjoy the waterfront and the growing popularity of water sports. The plan includes providing additional access to Buffalo’s growing waterfront and will piggy back on the current projects planned to create a better waterfront downtown. Currently he and his partners are raising money for a permanent structure to be built on site, but never-the-less the site is serving customers and is open to more. Knox sees the potential of taking a site surrounded by the ravages of old industry and slowly turning the tide on an area that has been an eye sore downtown. If the knack for finding opportunities for fun and business is anything like his ancestors, Knox may indeed be onto a growing new franchise. Reflecting on the beauty of the central California coastline and the water sports that abound there, Knox’s thought is why not make a business that can thrive on Buffalo’s natural resources. The approximately two acre site is located with direct access to the Buffalo River and Lake Erie. Talking with him we counted on our two hands the limited access to Buffalo’s waterfront and yet the growing recreational industry of water sports including kayaking, canoeing, and wind surfing which provide the opportunities for his venture.

Aside from his rowing venture, consulting company, art and photography collecting, and love for sports Knox keeps busy with his involvement on numerous boards including the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and the George Eastman House, among others. Involvement in the community is what fuels Knox’s commitment to make Buffalo a better place for future generations and hey, why not have fun while doing it.