Joseph Buckelew
Business and civic leader
Born in: New Brunswick, New Jersey
Lives in: Lakewood, New Jersey
New Jersey Hall of Fame, Class of 2017: Enterprise
Driven by his desire to improve the lot of his family and his fellow New Jersey residents, Joe Buckelew has lived a life of service and business achievement.
His success goes back to his early days as a Lakewood Township police officer. He went on to serve Lakewood as police commissioner, mayor and as a member of the township council. He also served on the Ocean County board of freeholders.
As an entrepreneur, Buckelew is a former owner and one of the founders of Ocean Cablevision. He is also the former owner of Interstate General Media, the parent company of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia Daily News and Philly.com.
Currently, Buckelew serves as chairman of Conner Strong & Buckelew, a New Jersey-based insurance brokerage, risk-management consultancy and corporate insurance advisory firm. He has held prominent roles with the firm and its predecessor companies since 1959.
Buckelew previously was a member of the Commerce Bancorp board of directors, serving for a period as board chairman. He has also served as vice chairman of Kimball Medical Center Foundation board of trustees, and on the Barnabas Health Care System’s board of trustees. On a statewide basis, Buckelew was chairman of the New Jersey Highway Authority for seven years; chairman and vice chairman of the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority; and a board member of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission.
Among his many honors, Buckelew received an honorary doctorate of Humane Letters from Georgian Court University and an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree from Monmouth University. Additionally, he was presented a Distinguished Citizen Award from the Jersey Shore Council of the Boy Scouts of America; a Good Scout Award from the Ocean County Council of the Boy Scouts of America; a silver Gull Award for Business Achievement from the Monmouth-Ocean Development Council; and a Humanitarian Award from Ocean County College Foundation.