You gotta see who Buffalo State is honoring

So here's the deal—Buffalo State University is rolling out the red carpet for its 154th Commencement, and they're bringing back a true Buh-flo guy to celebrate. Paterson, as in the late Assemblyman William B. Paterson, is getting a posthumous Distinguished Alumnus Award. I'm not even kidding. The man was a giant, you know? A real champion for the East Side, for education, for making sure folks in our community had a voice down in Albany. It’s a huge honor, and oh for sure, it's deserved.

### Why This Matters for Buffalo

This isn't just about a degree, right? This is about remembering someone who actually *did* the work. Paterson was right there, fighting for folks in neighborhoods like Fruit Belt and Masten Park. He knew what it meant to live here, to face the challenges, and to build something better.

* **Community Roots:** Paterson was a Buffalo kid through and through, went to Buff State, came back, and served for decades. That connection is big.

* **Legacy of Service:** He pushed for things that really mattered — economic development, better schools, making sure state resources actually made it back to Buffalo.

* **Inspiration:** For current Buff State students, or anyone coming up, it's a reminder that you can make a real difference right here, in your own backyard.

It’s easy to forget the people who paved the way, but Buff State isn’t letting that happen. They’re making sure Paterson’s name is remembered, especially with all the new energy and development happening on the East Side these days. It just goes to show you, some people's impact just keeps on going. Bills by a billion — and yeah, the city too.

Dean and the crew are probably talking about this right now — catch 'em live at mornings.live.