Nicholas Plachta Captures Robert Buchanan Award

Huntington Class of 2025 salutatorian Nicholas Plachta is this year’s recipient of the Robert Buchanan Award. He plans to study public policy at Georgetown University.

An Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction, Mr. Plachta was inducted into a variety of academic honor societies as well as winning varsity letters with the soccer, basketball and tennis teams. He said that taking advantage of the many opportunities offered at the high school has been integral to his success.

“I’ve especially appreciated how unique each class is, with no two teachers being the same,” Mr. Plachta said. “The variety of courses and the engaging, informative and reliable teachers made every subject enjoyable.:

Even after 66 years, Mr. Buchanan’s fellow Class of 1959 members remain 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.