Larry Paffrath - Back Row second from left.

Bulter "Doggie" Cavalero" - Kneeling

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​1966








​​Edward Vargo:Butler HS graduate. He played basketball and football. He also played football for the Butler Cubs football team. Eddie played baseball for local sandlot teams and worked as an umpire. He worked his way up through the ranks of umpiring and ended up becoming an outstanding Major League baseball umpire for 23 years before taking a position in Major League baseball offices.

1967

Rocco Iannotti:Butler HS graduate. He played basketball, football, and track in the 1930's and early 1940's. After high school he played sandlot ball for many local teams.

Merle "Buzz" Iannotti: He was a Butler HS graduate who was a four year starter on the basketball team.. He also played football in high school, played in several sandlot sports in the 1940's era.















Jim Holot: Jim was an outstanding baseball player, coach, and manager. He also was a Major League baseball scout for the Baltimore Orioles

John Salem: Outstanding athlete in all sports - basketball, softball, track, and golf. He also coached YMCA National Championship basketball teams.



​​Thomas Nicholson: Played sandlot baseball, and was a marathon runner. He also was a sports promoter and Pullman Park Official.















                                                                             Earl Zinn - seated 2nd in the first row 

Earl Zinn:1920's era baseball pitcher and a basketball player. He played on local sandlot baseball teams and also managed in County Baseball Leagues.
















Butler "Doggie" CavaleroLocal sandlot basketball and baseball player. He worked for many years with the Butler Yankees professional baseball team at Pullman Park.


Brownie Douthett: 1920's era Butler HS graduate. He played baseball, football, earning outstanding MVP honors in all sports.



1968

George Bernlohr:1920's era Butler HS graduate where he played  baseball, and basketball. He went on to play basketball, football, and track  at Capital University. He later became the City Recreation Director.


Bill Bernlohr: Butler HS graduate who played basketball and track. He went on to play basketball, football, and track at Capital University. He became a coach at Capital University and Athletic Director.

 

John Gazetos: Butler HS and Thiel College football and track player.  He also played and coached the Butler Cubs football team in the 1940's.


Jim McDowell: Butler HS graduate where he played football and coached. He became the namesake for Butler HS Football MVP's annual award.


Jack "JJ" Dunlevey: Prime mover and promoter of the Atlantic Baseball League in the 1940's.

Fran Webster: Butler HS and Slippery Rock University graduate from the 1930's - 40's era earning MVP honors in basketball. He also became a coach at Westminster College.



















Bill Saul:  Butler HS graduate where he was a three sport letterman. He set records in all three sports - basketball, football, and track. He went on to play football at Penn State University as an outstanding linebacker. After PSU he played in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Colts. Bill was also an outstanding baseball player in local sandlot leagues.


Harry Holiday: A 1940's All American Swimmer a the University of Michigan.



















Billy Kummer: An early 1900's outstanding basketball player in high school and college, earning several MVP Awards.



















Walter Johnstone: Walter was a professional who played on the PGA tour in the late 1920's and 1930's. He also was a Professional tutor at the Butler Country Club.


1969














Bill Younkins: A Butler HS and Washington & Jefferson College where he was an basketball and football player in the early 1900's. He also coached football at Butler & Vandergrift high schools.

Frank " Skip" LeFevre: Butler HS graduate who played baseball, basketball, and football. He also played in independent sandlot leagues and became a PIAA Official.


















​Tom Brown: 1940's Butler HS graduate. He was an outstanding football player at Butler. He went on play football at William & Mary and from there he was by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also played for the Butler Cubs.
















Paul Red Uram: A Butler HS and Slippery Rock University graduate where he excelled in football & track.He was also an outstanding gymnast and went to coach National Championship Gymnastics Teams. He later worked for the Pittsburgh Steelers as their flexibility and strength conditioning coach.















​Gordon Hutchison:  He was a promoter of the Mid-Atlantic Baseball League and sponsor of several local baseball teams.


William "Mose" Campbell: Butler HS graduate. He was an MVP basketball player holding scoring records in the early 1900's.


Howard "Tip" Downing: Butler HS graduate where he played and earned All-Conference honors in basketball & football. He went on to play basketball & football at Western Kentucky. He later became a high and college coach.


Ira "Pete" McKee: Butler HS & US Naval Academy graduate in the 1920's. He excelled in baseball, basketball, and football. He won the Sword Award while at the Naval Academy.


​1970

Frank "Hank" Hollock: A 1920's Butler HS graduate where he played basketball & football. He also played Sandlot baseball & basketball, and was a scratch golfer.




















Al "Birdie" Krankota:Butler HS graduate who lettered in baseball, basketball, and football. He went on to play football & tennis at Duquense University.




















​​William "Rip" Collins:Butler HS graduate who excelled in basketball & track. He went to play basketball at for the University of PIttsburgh in the late 1930's.

Roger Patrizo: Duquense University MVP football player. He also played football & softball  for the Butler Cubs in the 1940's.

Anthony Betty: Butler HS graduate where he lettered in basketball & football. He was also an outstanding Handball player

Mark McLafferty: He was a semi-pro baseball player in the early 1900's. He also became a baseball official.























​​Larry Paffrath:Butler HS graduate who lettered in basketball & football, and was named to All-Section teams. He went on to play basketball at the University of Pittsburgh. He was named to the Look Magazine All-American Team in basketball. He later became a high school basketball coach.



















Joe Embroski: Outstanding Fast-Pitch softball player. He earned local & state MVP honors in numerous softball tournaments. 


1971



















Dale Betty: Butler HS graduate who lettered in basketball, football, and track. He earned WPIAL athletic honors. He went on to play football at the University of Maryland earning All-American recognition. He also played in the Blue-Gray game.

Regis Heinzer: Butler HS graduate who lettered in basketball & football in the 1920's. He went on play football at Geneva College where he earned All-Conference honors. He returned to be a basketball & football coach at Butler High School.

Bert "Dutch" Ross:A Butler HS graduate who was an outstanding track athlete setting records in the 100 year dash. He also played football for three years in high school.















William Faust:1920's era Butler Eagle Sports Editor. He was also the secretary for the Butler Yankees in the Middle Atlantic League.

William Hulton: Butler HS graduate where he played basketball & football. He became a MLB scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also coached for the Butler Cubs, and was the Business Manager  for the Mid-Atlantic Baseball League.
















A. Gerald Cappezutti:Butler HS football coach with the 1950 WPIAL football championship team. His record at Butler was (73-35-6). 



















 




 Stephen Shuber: Butler HS graduate who lettered in basketball, football, & track in the early 1940's. He earned  All-Section honors at Butler. He went on to play basketball at the University of Pittsburgh. He also played baseball & football for the Butler Cubs.


 1972




















Larry "Lunch" Andres:Sandlot baseball & football player. He was also a local promoter of sports in the Butler area. 

 


























Richard Gregory: Golden Gloves and Diamond Belt Boxing Pro with a record of 35-4. He also became a boxing promoter.

David Mintz: 1930's Butler HS graduate where he played basketball & football earning  MVP honors. He went on to play basketball and football at Westminster College. He became a direct for a YMCA in New York.

John Lobaugh: 1940's era Butler HS graduate where he played baseball and football. He went on to play minor baseball for several years. And later pitched in the local sandlot leagues.

















​Armond Cingolani: Outstanding basketball & football player at Duquense University.

Mike Josephs: Butler HS graduate who played football. He went on to play football at Thiel College. He went to become the Athletic Director and Football Coach at Shepard College.

 


 



 


 



 

 











John Honse: Butler HS graduate. He played on the 1950 WPIAL championship football team. He went on to the S Naval Academy and played football on US Marine football teams. 



















​Richard "Dick" Baker: Early 1900's outstanding basketball player for Butler and Allegheny College setting scoring records. He went on to becomea college basketball coach.


1973

Charles Benton: He was a 1920's Butler HS graduate who played baseball and football at Butler. He went on to play baseball for two years and one year of football at Notre Dame University.     

Pete Collodi: A Butler HS graduate who played basketball and tennis back in the 1920's. He went on to play basketball at Duquense University. Later he became a high school basketball coach.

Charles LaFevre: A local baseball and football player and coach from 1905 - 1919 in te Butler area. 

Johnny Murphy: A Butler HS graduate who lettered in football and track. He set WPIAL & PIAA records in the javelin. He went on to playfootball for one year at Duquense University.













Andy Krause:A WWI era athlete in the Butler area. He played in independent football, and minor leagues baseball.


















Jim "Buster" Nastasi:Butler HS graduate, and outstanding football player and track star. He went to play football at Geneva College earning Little All-American and All-District  honors. He also played in local sandlot baseball leagues.

















​Joe Stetzer: Legendary Baseball Umpire for over fifty-years, officiating local, college, and minor league team. 

Gene Ball: A 1930's era Butler HS graduate who played basketball, football, and track. He went on to play football at Duquense University where he played in the Sugar Bowl for the Dukes. 


1974

Willard "Beeler" Fleming: Grove City College 1920'2 era where he played baseball, ​and played in the International League.



















                                                                        Elmer Massey with Jim Senopole 1980's era

Elmer Massey: Butler HS graduate who played football and track. He went to attend Lincoln University and played for the Pittsburgh Crawfords in the Negro Professional Baseball League. He also was a long PIAA umpire, and local sandlot leagues.


















John "Son" Patkay:Butler HS graduate who earned 12 letters in basketball, football, and track in the 1930's. He went on to play basketball at the University of Pittsburgh in 1939-1942. 

















​James Curzi:A Butler HS graduate who was an All-State gymnast.  He went to have an outstanding collegiate career at Michigan State from 1964-1966. He won NCAA  and Big Ten Championships in gymnastics.

















   Joe Krankota:1920's and 30's All-Star baseball player  who played in the City and County Leagues.



















Charles "Chuck" Taggert: A Professional boxer in the 1920's and early 30's. He also had 45 wins as an amateur. He also coached local amateurs.



















Dick Dilts: A Butler HS graduate who achieved All-State honors in basketball, football, and track. He went on to play football at Slippery Rock University. After college he became an outstanding football coach.

Bill "Bronk" Gardner: A promoter of Butler County baseball in the 1940's & 50's eras.

1975
















Herold "Hesh" Mintz: Butler HS graduate in the 1940's. He played basketball and football in high school, then went on to play basketball at Youngstown University. In high school he was Captain and lettered in football for three seasons. He was only 16 years old as a senior on the 1940 ( 7-1-1 team).  At Youngstown University he turned to basketball as a starter his freshman year. He played with outsanding players such as John Lujack, and Jack Ramsey. He also played basketball locally for the Butler Famers. The most sad moment of his athletic career came at Butler HS in the 6-6 tie with New Castle his senior year when his father collapsed in the stands at New Castle about the time he threw the Butler touchdown to another Butler Hall of Fame inductee Bob Paffrath. His father passed away later that evening at Jameson Hospital in New Castle. 


Carl Dufford: 1920's era Butler HS graduate where played basketball, football, and track earning All-Section honors. He captained the Butler baseball and basketball teams in 1923 -1924. He led Section 3 in scoring in 1922-23, and made All-Section in the  1921-22 season and the All-WPIAL Team in 1924.  He went on to earn All-Conference honors at Thiel College. He had an outstanding four years at Thiel in baseball and football from 1924-1928. After his successful collegiate he played for local sandlot baseball and independent basketball teams through the late 1930's. He also turned to officiating both sports from the late 1930's through the 1950's era. 


















Bob Paffrath: 1940's era Butler HS graduate. He played basketball and football earning three letters in each sport, and earned All-Section honors. He captained both teams in 1941-1942, and and won the Storey Memorial Award, ,the same season also won  an All-Section spot in basketball two year straight from 1941- 1942.  He went to play and earn 4 letters in  basketball at Duquense University where he played in the NIT tournament in the 1946-47 season and ended up runner up in that tournament. After college for five straight seasons he played softball for the Butler Cubs that won five straight championships. He also coached for several years at St. Josephs and St. Elizabeth High Schools. And he officiated basketball for 12 years in the Suburban League.



















Carmen Scialabba: He started out boxing while in high school with the Butler Cubs. He then attended Penn State under a ring scholarship, and when PSU dropped the program , he joined the US Marines in 1955. He was a member of the All-Marine boxing team for three years ( 1956-57-58). During that era he he became Camp Lejune lightweight champion, and All-Marine featherweight champion, Pacific Area featherweight champion. He represented the US Marine in the Olympic trials and in the Pan American trials. In June of 1960 he was  named Ring Magazine Fighter of the Month.  He boxed in Madison Square Garden three times during his short professional career. IN all he had about 90 boxing matches, professional and amateur with only 12 losses. Three of those losses were pro bouts. He was heading toward a long pro career and was scheduled to box at Pullman Park when he was stricken with Polio. He was able to return to school and graduated Cum Laude and a member of Phi Theta Kappa in 1966 at the University of Pittsburgh. He then taught at Westmont HS in Johnstown.

  

Joe Mixer: He attended Farrell HS and played football there.  He then attended Slippery Rock ,PItt, and Westminster colleges where he turned to swimming.  He served as the Butler HS as a swimming coach for three decades starting in 1929 through the 1958-59 season. He also taught at Butler from from 1926 through 1966. He served for many years as chairman of the WPIAL Swimming Committee, and a WPIAL Official.


















​Terry Hanratty: Butler HS graduate lettering in basketball, football, and track. He went to  play football at Notre Dame University. After college he was drafted into the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers where he played on a Super Bowl team. At Butler he set a defensive record at Butler with 9 interceptions as a junior. His senior year he he scored a record 121 points on 16 TD's and 24 extra points. He also had 679 net yards in 81 attempts,which was a quarterback record. He three 11 TD's. He also set a Butler High Jump record of 6' 2 1/2" beating out his brother Pete's record of 6' 2 1/4". He scored 215 points as a senior on the basketball team.  He went to play football at Notre Dame, where he accumulated 550 passing attempts, 304 completions, for 4,152 yards and 27 TD's. In 1968, his best year he completed 116 of 197 passes. He went on to play professional football for the Pittsburgh Steelers as a Super Bowl winner. 





















Dave "Red" Parker: A 1921 Butler HS graduate where he played basketball and football and named to All-WPIAL teams. He went on to play baseball at the University of Pittsburgh, and then became a professional baseball umpire. 















  John Zigbor: A Butler HS graduate who played basketball and football. He became a great football player for the Butler Cubs after World War II. He won All-Sandlot honors in the Sun Telegraph League, and was the Cubs MVP  in football and basketball for the Butler Cubs teams in 1947, and 1948. He was All-State in the PA YMCA. He also played and coached baseball for several local teams.

1976














Rich Saul: A Butler HS Graduate who lettered in basketball, football, and track. He went on to play football at Michigan State University. He was an All-Conference player in the Big 10.  He was drafted by the LA Ram where he had a long NFL career. He played in a Super Bowl with the Rams.  
















Ronald Saul: Twin brother of Rich Saul , who also lettered in basketball, football, and track. Then went to play football at Michigan State University. He received All- Big 10 honors. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins where he had a long NFL career.














Frank Lankewicz: A Butler HS graduate who lettered in football and tack. He went on to play football at the University of Georgia. While at Georgia he played in the Sun Bowl. He was also an sandlot baseball player in local summer leagues. 


















​Ed Novak:A 1937 Butler HS graduate who lettered in basketball and football. He went on to play basketball and football at Thiel College.
















​                   

Steve Wasko: A 1920's era outstanding baseball and football player in the local Independent Leagues. 















Joe Derose: A 1940's era Butler HS graduate who was All-Section in basketball and football. He went on to play football at Youngstown State University. 















Anthony J.  Triccise: A Butler HS graduate in the 1920's. He played baseball, basketball, and football. 
















Emil Rosenzweig: He was a Butler HS Track Coach or 23 years, and also served as an assistant coach in basketball and football.


1977
















Rick Hrip: A 1960's Butler HS graduate who was an outstanding golfer. He won WPIAL and PIAA  championships. He continued his collegiate career at Indiana University of PA winning NAIA championships. setting numerous records. 


















Marty Cypher: World famous USA Olympic weight lifting trainer and coach. He was also inducted into the USA Hall of Fame.

Wilfred :Sifter" Sykes: He was an early 1930's Butler HS graduate who played basketball, baseball, and football. He also played and coached local sandlot baseball teams. He captained the 1931 baseball that reached the WPIAL finals. Later he coached Chicora LL.

Lawrence Casey: He played basketball and football in the 1920's and in the semi-professional baseball leagues, including Butler Kadet Klub in basketball (1917-1922), Standard Paint in baseball, football with Daugherty Refinery and Bruin Oils in 1921. He also was part of the Petrolia Team that won National Federation honors in 1934. He also played semi-pro baseball for Elk County, Mt. Jewitt, & Bradford.

















B​ill "Tank" Rettig: An early 1960's Butler HS graduate. At Butler he earned All-American honors in football. He went on to continue his academic and athletic career at Penn State University.

John Joy: Butler HS graduate where he lettered in basketball and football. He went to continue has academic and athletic career at Slippery Rock University playing basketball and football. After college he went on to coach basketball at he high school and college level for Har-Brack, Jeannette, Monaca, Meadville, and Clarion University.

















​​

Joe Defurio: He was a great boxer in the1920's era. As a Light Weight boxer he won over 50 bouts in the Tri-State area.

Father William Savage: Contributor to many aspects of local youth sports. He started the CYC in 1937 for Butler Catholic.


1978


​James  Beatty: 1940's era Butler HS graduate. He lettered in football and track. He also played for the Butler Cubs, and coached youth leagues in the Butler area. He also played baseball in the Butler Eagle Co. League over a decade for Connoquenessing. 

 


















Mike Guinta: A Butler HS graduate who lettered in football, and track as a MAC first team player, second team WPIAL player. He earned All-State honors in football while at Butler. He went on to play football at Clarion University as a leading rusher. 
















Terry Rettig:  A 1966 Butler HS graduate who had an outstanding high school career in football. He was named All-State, and All-American honors. He went on to play football at Vanderbilt University where he earned MVP Awards.  

Cliff Nevins: A Butler HS graduate who earned 10 letters at Butler in basketball, football, and track. He went on to play football at Geneva College.

​Frank Druda: 1940 Butler HS graduate who lettered in football and track. He also played for the Butler Cubs and the University of Pittsburgh. 

Rich Kramer:  A 1935 - 1939 Butler HS graduate who lettered in basketball, football, and track. He went on to play football at Rochester University where he lettered three seasons, and was captain of the 1938 team. He later became football official in the Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Assn. 














Ronald Stutz: A 1952 Butler HS graduate. He lettered 4 years in basketball. he also played football. He was voted Most Athletic by his class in 1952. He was a starter at Indiana University of PA when he was drafted, and continued to play basketball while serving in the US Army being named first string for the  Northern Area Command in Germany.















                                                                 


                                                    The 1978 Butler Area Sports Hall of Fame Inductees.


1979
















Art Bernardi:  A native of Clairton who went on to play football at Thiel College before coaching a very successful Butler High School Football  with a 136-85-21 record , and also program was the Athletic Director. Art was a long time member of the Butler County Sports HOF as a Director. 

 


















​​Milt Graff:  A native of Saxonburg who was an outstanding baseball player. He played for the Kansas City A's and the Pittsburgh Pirates, before taking a position with the Pirates in their business offices and then with Houston. He worked his way up through the minor leagues before making the big leagues with Hutchison, Charleston, New Orleans, and Williamsport. 


















Larry Monsilovich: Ann outstanding football player for Butler HS and Indiana University of PA. He was named Associated Press NAIA First Team in football.
















​​Jordie Ritz Hamilton:  First  female athlete inducted into the Hall of Fame. She was National Judo Champion, and an outstanding scuba diver and bowler. Over a 15 year period she won 78 medals ( 40 first place, 25 seconds, and 8 thirds)

















Bill Beneigh: He was an All-Conference football player for the Butler Cubs in the 1940's.  He also played for US Navy teams. 















​John Ifft: A graduate of Zelienople HS where he played basketball, football, and track. He went on to play basketball at Geneva College.  He was the Butler HS basketball coach for sixteen years.


















Jack Virgilli:  A 1930's era Golden Gloves and Diamond Belt boxing champion.  He competed in 1935 at Natrona, then moved to middle-weight fighting in the Diamond Belt championships in Detroit, and Cleveland in 1937. 


















​  Sam Walker: An 1893 Butler HS graduate. Organized sports were not available at Butler during his time. He went on to play football at Penn State from 1894 - 1896  He then moved on to coach football at VMI. One of his players at VMI was General George C.Marshall. Marshall gave credit to Sam for helping him with his military career. 























 





Gordon Hutchison -First in back row. Mid-Atlantic League - Butler Yankees