Haeffner, Joseph A. (Joseph Anthony), 1907-1987.

Joseph A. Haeffner was the promotion manager of WBEN and WBEN-TV in Buffalo, N.Y.

He was born in Baltimore, July 9, 1907. He worked as assistant to the publicity director at the Baltimore Sun (1923-29). Then joined The Buffalo Evening News in June 1929, while the newspaper was applying for a radio license (WBEN) before the Federal Radio Commission. He served as a member of the editorial promotion staff, radio editor, and promotional advertising director for The News. He left The News in 1943 to enter the Army, where he edited a military newspaper. Upon discharge from the service in October 1945, he became promotion manager of The News' radio station, WBEN. When Buffalo's first television station (then WBEN-TV, now WIVB, an affiliate of CBS) aired on May 14, 1948, Mr. Haeffner also became its promotion manager. Mr. Haeffner served as the promotion manager for the WBEN AM-FM radio and WBEN-TV until he retired, in 1972. Mr. Haeffner was an avid newspaper collector with about 3,000 front pages. He earned an honorary life membership in the Southwestern Association of Volunteer Firemen in 1932, with the establishment of The Buffalo Evening News Junior Fire Department, which emphasized fire safety among youngsters. An active Catholic layman, Haeffner was the recipient in 1970 of the St. Joseph the Worker lay award from the Diocese of Buffalo for long-time service to his church, SS. Peter and Paul in the Village of Hamburg, and community. He was a grand knight of Hamburg Council 2220, Knights of Columbus; chaplain of Hamburg Post 527, American Legion; a member of the Board of Governors of Hilbert College; and member of the Village of Hamburg Planning Commission. He was also active in area theatrical circles. He died April 30, 1987.