BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — On Monday, Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame member and longtime high school sports contributor Dick Gallagher passed away, a family friend confirms to 7 Eyewitness News.
Gallagher, 79, entered hospice care last week after a struggle with cancer.
He was a longtime contributor on "Saturday Sports Final" and "Sunday Sports Final" on WKBW in the early 2000s.
“He has so many people that he’s influenced,” longtime friend and fellow Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame member Len Jankiewicz told WKBW. “I don’t think anyone in Western New York in the sports world has influenced and helped more people than Dick Gallagher.”
“He’s a great family man, a great dad and a great friend of Western New York athletics that will be missed,” Jankiewicz added.
He also created the WNY High School Sports publication, which highlighted and featured local athletes from various sports.
Outside of sports, Gallagher was one of the founders of the Kids Escaping Drugs organization and was involved in several other local charities.