Jerzy Buzek is strongly bound with the history of the Factory as well as with Węgierska Górka. Between 1911 and 1939 he was holding a position as a manager in the Iron Foundry in Węgierska Górka and then the chief executive officer. During an academic year between 1927 and 1928 he took the position as a lecturer at the Faculty of Foundry Engineering at the AGH University of Science and Technology in Cracow. Between 1933 and 34 he also worked at the Faculty of Huge Furnaces.
In 1934, he received a title of docent and professor of the AGH University of Science and Technology in Cracow. In 1935, he was appointed to the position as a director of the Metallurgy of Pig Iron and Cast-iron Founding Factory, which he held until his death. He was also a director of the Iron Foundry in Węgierska Górka. In 1936, he became a honorary director of Founders’ Association at Polish Technicians Association in Warsaw. In 1934, he was appointed to the position as a corresponding member of Polish Academy of Sciences.
Professor Buzek has also services for his actions in the local authorities – between 1923 and 1924 he was a member of the Gmina Council in Cięcina and between 1925 and 1927 he became the Gmina Head. During his term, the school with four classrooms in Cięcina Górna, the railway station in Cięcina and a new clergy house were built. There bells were also bought to the St. Catherine’s church. Between 1918 and 1938, as a chair man of the Folk School Association in Węgierskiej Górce, he promoted education and culture. Gymnastics Association ‘Falcon’ was founded with his support and then he became its patron. Due to his actions, the organized sport in Węgierska Górka was started.
A lot of events will be organized at the 175th anniversary of Metalpol Factory existence in Węgierska Górka. They will take place not only inside the factory but also locally. A publication that portrays the past 175 years is to be released. There will be a lot of conferences and contests, especially for children. One of the important part of the event is the initiative in funding and revealing the statue with a plaque to commemorate professor Jerzy Buzek – a man with great services to our commune and especially to the Factory of Fittings and The Cast-iron Foundry. He lived at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
He was a scientist and an engineer of metallurgy. The cast-iron foundry owes its development to him. Between 1911 and 1939 he was a director of the factory. He was also a lecturer in AGH University of Science and Technology in Cracow. He was known as an efficient council politician in the Żywiec region. The workers of the Metalpol Węgierska Górka came up with the idea to erect a statue of professor Jerzy Buzek. The factory in carrying on the tradition that started in 1838.’We want to pay tribute to the man, who not only contributed to the development of the factory but also of the whole town. The figure of professor Jerzy Buzek is a little forgotten in Węgierska Górka, but he did a lot of good to the local community’ – Marek Podgrodzki says, the director of Metalpol.
