Benjamin Edgar-McNerney Presented Robert Buchanan Award

Huntington Class of 2024 salutatorian Benjamin Edgar McNerney is this year’s recipient of the Robert Buchanan Award. He plans to study computer engineering at Binghamton University.

President of the Math Honor Society and a Distinguished Senior, Mr. Edgar-McNerney starred on the Blue Devil varsity fencing team and volunteered with the high school’s Habitat for Humanity chapter.

An Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction, Mr. Edgar-McNerney credits his perseverance and drive for his success. He said that his stubbornness has allowed him to better himself and hone his talents. If something doesn’t work out he will try again with twice the effort, learning from his previous mistakes. He’s enjoyed developing fulfilling relationships with classmates, teammates and teachers over the past four years.

Even after 65 years, Mr. Buchanan’s fellow Class of 1959 members remain fiercely loyal and devoted to their fallen classmate. An award in his memory is presented annually to the salutatorian of the graduating class.

A resident of Halesite, Mr. Buchanan was one of three senior boys who was riding in a small foreign sports car that crashed into a large tree on the east side of Oakwood Road late in the afternoon on Monday, April 13, 1959 not far from what was then a brand new Huntington High School.

Riding in the passenger seat, Mr. Buchanan was the most seriously injured of the three boys as he sustained a fractured skull, broken leg and internal injuries. The driver of the car was the school newspaper editor. He suffered two broken legs and was also listed in critical condition. The third student was in the back seat of the car. He suffered multiple contusions.

The car went into a skid, leaving marks on the roadway that stretched 188 feet. Mr. Buchanan never regained consciousness and passed away on Saturday, May 2, 1959. A funeral service was held at Central Presbyterian Church on Main Street. Interment was at Wallkill Valley Cemetery in Wallkill, New York.