HOF ERA 2000

Harry Hein & Bill Protzman at Butler Speedway 1968

2000

Larry George: A Butler HS graduate who played basketball, football, and swimming. He earned All-Conference honors while at Butler. He set YMCA swimming records, and was an outstanding sandlot baseball player.

Jennings Marburger: An Evans City HS graduate in the 1940's who excelled in basketball, football, and track. He went on to Colgate University where he was an outstanding baseball player. After college he played semi-pro baseball.

Tim McCune: A 1970's ERA Butler HS graduate who lettered in baseball and football, earning MVP honors in baseball. He continued his academic and athletic career at Grove City College playing both baseball and football. He later became a local youth baseball and football coach.

William "Bill" Parise: The Butler HS graduate excelled in gymnastics earning WPIAL and PIAA championships. He continued his gymnastics career at New Mexico University earning All -WAC honors. He later became a YMCA Director.

Dave Barnes: A Slippery Rock HS graduate where he excelled in basketball and volleyball. He continued his athletic career at Slippery Rock University as an outstanding tennis player. He played # 1 Tennis Singles his entire collegiate career, and loss just three matches his entire collegaite career. He did not lose a match his senior year. After graduating from SRU he became a basketball coach at Karns City HS, the moved on to coach tennis at Butler HS for many years. He also coached and taught tennis at the Butler Country Club.

Steve Heasley: A Butler HS graduate where he was a WPIAL and PIAA gymnastics champion. He continued his gymnastics career at Slippery Rock University earning NAIA honors. After Slippery Rock he became a coach for Butler HS, and opened a gymnastics training academy in 1974 in Butler.

Paul Lumley: A 1974 Butler HS graduate who lettered in baseball and football. He was all All-Conference baseball player. He went to play football at West Virginia University playing in the Bowl. He played for the Butler Yankees in the Semi-Pro Butler Eagle County Baseball league for several years on their championship teams.

2001

Joseph Laconi: 1940's ERA Butler HS graduate who lettered in football. He went toplay football in the military and for the Butler Cubs Semi-Pro Football Team. He also played softball in the local sandlot leagues.

Geno Mariotti: A Butler HS graduate who played basketball. He also played on the Butler YMCA's National Basketball Teams. In the 1940's and 50's he played on local sandlot baseball land softball teams.

Eric Swanson: A Butler HS graduate where he was a WPIAL and PIAA gymnastics champion. He went to attend the US Naval Academy earning All-American recognition in gymnastics.

Calvin Schake: He was a 1970's National and International Weight Lifting Champion. He also represented the United States on US Olympic Teams.

George Mihalik: He as Slippery Rock University's head football coach for 28 seasons from 1988 - 2015, when he retired from a long career as both a professor and coach at the University. He also starred as the starting quarterback for three-years at SRU in the early 1970's winning back-to-back conference championships in 1972 and 1973 with a 25-5-1 record, and served as an assistant coach . He became a graduate assistant coach before taking over as head coach in 1988.In total he was involved with the SRU football program for 44 years. His overall record at SRU was 197-111-4.

Charles Dunaway: A Slippery Rock University football and tennis player earning All-Conference honors. When he finished at SRU, he became a full-time Athletic Director and multi-sport coach at Butler County Community College.

Scott Milanovich: An early 1990's Butler HS graduate who was a three sport athlete playing basketball, football ,and track. He went on to attend the University of Maryland where he played quarterback. He was named the MVP of the Blue Squad in the Blue-Gray Classic for the University. He signed as a Free Agent for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1996. From there he moved on to play for the Los Angeles Xtreme in the XFL which won the league championship in the leagues sole season. He then began a long professional coach career with the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe, then the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League and several other coaching positions with the Cologne Centurians, Montreal Alouettes, the Toronto Argonauts. He then coached for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL.

2002

Edward Hoyn: A 1930's ERA Butler HS graduate who played baseball and swimming. He entered the US Army in 1942 through 1945. In 1952 he began umpiring in the Alabama State League and then moved on into the West Texas - New Mexico League, and then in 1953 he was assigned to the Alabama - Florida League, and finally umpired in the Piedmont League and then went on the volunteer retirement list. He later became a local PIAA basketball and football official.

Laverne Kline: A Butler HS graduate who played football and track. He went to play football at Thiel College earning All-Conference MVP honors. He became a baseball and football coach at Wilmington HS after college.

Larry Thompson: A Butler HS graduate who played baseball and basketball and then went on to play basketball at Slippery Rock University setting the assist record at SRU. He went on to coach baseball, basketball, and track at York HS.

Mark Harvey: The Butler HS graduate was a PIAA Track Champion, and went on to earn All-American status as a sprinter at Slippery Rock University as a PSAC Champion Sprinter.

Robert Despirito: He played football and lettered at the University of Rhode Island in 1950. He served as the head football coach at the University of Bridgeport from 1960 - 1964. For the next three years he served as an assistant coach at Bucknell University. He then became the head coach at Slippery Rock University from 1967 - 1980. He was inducted into the SRU Hall of Fame in 1980. He finished his 15 year coaching career at SRU with a record of 79-60-2. He led the "Rock" to three straight PSAC Football Championships during his coaching career at SRU.

Joseph Gracik: A Butler HS graduate who excelled as a gymnast,winning WPIAL and PIAA honors. He went on to be an All-American gymnast at the University of Pittsburgh.

Sandie (Starr) Everhart: A Mars HS graduate where she played basketball and track earning All-State honors. She went to play basketball at Allegheny College earning All-American honors.She then became a high school coach.

2003

Lou Skurcenski: A 1960 Zelienople HS graduate where he was a three sport athlete in basketball, football, and track. He went on to an outstanding basketball career at Westminster College from 1960 - 1964 which included the 1962 team that was voted the No. 1 small college team in America, earning All-American status, and named the 1964 Westminster College Athlete of the Year. His career collegiate stats are impressive. In his 4 year career he scored 1,182 points and #2 all time with 958 rebounds. In 1965 he was drafted by the NBA's Philadelphia 76'ers, but did not play for them. He spent one year 1967-68 with the ABA - Pittsburgh Pipers and then went on to play for the ABA - Phillips 66'ers in Bartlesville, OK for several years.

John Gracik at Georgia Southern Circa 1970 Butler HS Gymnastics Team

John Gracik: A Butler HS graduate who excelled as a gymnast earning WPIAL and PIAA honors. He went on to continue his athletic career in gymnastics at Georgia Southern University, as an NCAA and International Champion.

Mitch Ufner: He was a Butler HS graduate who played football and swimming. He won WPIAL and PIAA honors.He went on to swim for the University of Pittsburgh. He also was a boxer while serving in the US Military.

Ronald Laconi:A Butler HS graduate who played basketball and football. He was named to the All MAC conference team in football. He went on to play football at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Bill "Red" McConnell: A Butler HS graduate who played basketball, football and track. He continued his football career at Grove City College. He also played sandlot baseball and softball for local teams

Mike Kriley: A Butler HS graduate who was an outstanding swimmer for he Golden Tornado. He continued swimming at Syracuse University earning All-American status, and a Big East Champion.

Rich Pribis: A Butler HS graduate where he was a gymnast and a swimmer as a WPIAL Champion. He went on to the University of Pittsburgh as an All - American gymnast winning in the floor exercise. He coached at Butler HS after college.

2004

Chester "Bud" Jordan:An East Brady HS graduate where he played baseball in the 1930's. He spent over 60 organizing and coaching baseball in the Petrolia Valley area.

Edward Codi: An early 1960's Butler HS graduate who played football. He went to Kent State and Slippery Rock University playing football. After college he coached high school baseball, football, and track. He also has been a sports announcer for a local cable TV service.

William Reith: A Butler HS graduate where he was a gymnast. He also was adept at the sport of fencing. He went on to earn MVP honors in fencing at Cleveland State. And he also went to be a US Olympic Fencing Coach.

Peter Steenbergen: A Butler HS graduate who played basketball and tennis earning MVP honors. He went on to Haverford College where he was named All- American and Athlete of the Year.

James McKinney: A 1940's era Mars HS graduate where he played baseball. He also played semi-pro baseball in the Eagle County League in the 1950's. He also coached youth baseball for many years, and helped manage Pullman Park in Butler,PA.

William May: A 1940's era Butler HS graduate where he was named an MVP swimmer. He went on to Grove City College as a champion swimmer. He also played hockey.

Mark Smith: A 1980's era Butler HS graduate earning All- Section recognition in basketball. He went on to earn All District honors, and All-American recognition. He also sent the scoring record at Grove City College.

2005

C. Ralph Ifft: A Zelienople HS graduate of the late 1930's era where he played basketball and football. He earned All-Section honors. He went on to the University of Akron playing baseball. At the same time In 1940 he played baseball for Beaver Falls of the Pennsylvania State Baseball Association. He had a record of 14-4 and a league leading 2.01 ERA. After graduating from Akron in 1941, he pitched for Springfield of the Three I League before entering military service. In England , Ifft was Special Services Officer for the US Army with the rank of 1st Lieutenant. His responsibilities included the organization of four baseball leagues, and a softball league. Also staging weekly boxing shows, running a swimming pool and overseeing a golf tournament. By 1943 he had organized enough sports in England that any soldier who wanted to play a sport could do so. In 1944 Ifft was responsible for organizing a fund-raising baseball game in which the Queen of England was present. She threw out the first pitch, Ifft had to answer numerous questions of the Queen regarding the game of baseball. By 1946 Ifft was back in the USA and at age 32 he pitched three games for Youngstown in the Middle Atlantic League before retiring from the sport.

Charles "Mickey" Deahl: A Butler HS graduate who played basketball and track. He went to play both sports at Edinboro University. He also played local sandlot baseball for several years.

Thomas Paserba: A Butler HS graduate who played football and track. He earned WPIAL and PIAA honors in track while at Butler HS. He continued his track career at Slippery Rock University as a Penn Relays winner,and later became a track coach.

Joseph Malis: A Slippery Rock HS graduate where he was an outstanding MVP basketball player and leading scorer. He went on to continue his basketball career at Clarion University under coach Joe DeGregorio from 1980-82. He helped lead the 1979-80 Golden Eagles to PSAC and District 18 titles and a spot on the NAIA National Tournament. They won two games in the tournament ending their season at 23-9. He helped the team again win the PSAC West title in the 1980-81 season which was Clarion's first year as an NCAA D-II tournament. His last second jumper allowed Clarion to a NCAA East Region semi-final win. They ended with a 23-6 season. While at Clarion he set a single season scoring record of 622 points. He finished his career at Clarion with 1411 points ranking 5th at Clarion. From Clarion he moved on to play professional basketball in Europe.

Ray Prokopchak: A Butler HS graduate who played basketball and gold, earning All- Section honors. He went on to Arizona State University playing football. He also played and played on YMCA championship basketball teams. He later became a high school basketball coach.

Edward Erdos: A Butler HS graduate who played basketball and swimming. He went to swim for Slippery Rock University whre he set swim records and earned All-American status. He went on to coach at Edinboro University.

William Stanley: An outstanding gymnast for Butler HS as a WPIAL and PIAA champion. He continued his gymnastics career at Penn State University where he became an NCAA Champion and an All-American.

2006

Harold "Bo" Voelker: A Butler HS graduate who played football and track. He went to play football at Slippery Rock University. While at SRU he played in the Steel Bowl. He became a coach at Butler HS after SRU and also played sandlot softball.

Bill Sepich: A Winfield HS graduate where he played baseball. He played sandlot baseball and softball for many local teams and was part of softball All- World teams and earned many MVP honors.

David Cavalero: A late 1960's Butler HS graduate who lettered in basketball and football. He was a WPIAL MAC All-Star in football, and went on to McCook College where continued to play football. He later signed with Pittsburgh Ironmen as their quarterback.

Ken Bedford: A Butler HS graduate who was an outstanding Diving Champion in the WPIAL and the PIAA meets. He went on to dive for Clarion University as an NCAA winner, and named Diver of the Year.

Roger Hathaway: A Butler HS graduate where he played football and track. He was named All - WPIAL in football. He went to Thiel College to continue playing football. He later became a youth football coach.

Bob Beatty: A Slippery Rock HS graduate where he lettered in basketball, football, and track earning MVP honors. He went on to play football for Clarion University where he was named a PSAC and NAIA All- Star.

David Zirnsak: A Butler HS graduate who was a WPIAL and PIAA gymnastic champion. He continued his gymnastics career at Georgia Southern University where he earned MVP honors and named an AAU Champion.

Bill Cress: A 1970 Mars HS graduate who played basketball and track becoming a scoring leader for the Planets. He went on to play basketball at Westminster College being named an MVP. He later became a HS Basketball Coach.

2007

William Dunn: A 1949 Butler HS graduate where he played football and track, earning WPIAL MVP rushing honors in football. He went on to play football at Geneva College.

Donald Spinetti: A longtime boxing manager, trainer, and promoter for the Butler Cubs Boxing Organization.

Mark Maier: A Butler HS graduate and an outstanding basketball player. He was named All- Conference and PIAA honors. He went on to continue playing basketball at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he was named to the All-PSAC team and was a leading scorer for IUP as 18th of all time.

Ken Minnear: A Moniteau HS graduate who lettered in basketball, football, and track. He earned MVP honors in basketball, and All-Conference recognition. He went on to play football at Slippery Rock University. He then was signed by Ottawa in the Canadian Football League.

Aaysha Harrer Dellen: A Butler HS graduate who lettered in basketball, and volleyball. She earned numerous honors in track.

Rymond " Wes" Blaine:A Butler HS graduate who played football and swimming. He was All-Conference in football and He went toplay football for the US Military Academy for three years.

James Smith:A Butler HS graduate who played basketball, football, and track earning MVP and WPIAL honors. He went on to play football at Geneva College where he was named All-Conference.

2008

Berton Fillhart: A 1935 Butler HS graduate who was a 100 Freestyle and 200 Relay WPIAL Champion. He became a YMCA Masters Champion Instructor.

Chuck Moses: An early 1950's four sport letterman at Butler HS, in baseball, football, golf, and gymnastics. He continued athletics at Slippery Rock University in football, golf, and gymnastics. He earned All-Conference recognition in golf. He was a part of Coach Uram's outstanding gymnastics teams while at Butler.

Harry Hein: A 1950's through the 1970's local auto racing pioneer. He was also raced nationally on the NASCAR Sportsman's Division, and the MARC racing series earning national rankings.

Richard Snodgrass: A Butler HS graduate who lettered in baseball and football. He went on to Clarion University and was an outstanding kicker for the football team. After college he was kicker for the Pittsburgh and Baltimore in the NFL. After his NFL career ended he took up sandlot baseball and softball earning many championship honors.

James Sacco: A Butler HS graduate where he was a WPIAL Gymnastics champion. He continued gymnastics at the University of Pittsburgh earning MVP and All-American honors. He continued as a gymnastics coach after college.

Wendy-Brink- Jilson: A Butler HS graduate earning four letters in basketball with WPIAL honors. She went on to St. Joseph College playing basketball, with NCAA honors. She then became an AAU Coach.

Eric Werner: Butler HS graduate where he played baseball and football earning MVP honors in both sports. He went to play both sports at Duquense University again earning MVP in both sports, and named Athlete of the Year in 1985. He was also an outstanding semi-pro player for the Butler Yankees as a catcher in the Butler Eagle County Baseball League.

2009

William " Bill" Bauder: A 1932 Portersville HS graduate, he helped found the Butler Eagle County Baseball League. Bill donated his own land to build a baseball field for the Eagle County League for the Middle Lancaster entrant. The land became Lancaster Park. He played starting in 1935, managed, and served on the board until 1975.

David Florie: An Ellwood City HS, and Grove City College graduate. He played baseball and basketball. He went to become a longtime PIAA basketball official, and coached baseball in several schools. His most recent coaching positions before retirement were at Seneca Valley, and Butler HS.

Robert " Bob" Quigley: A Butler HS and Clarion College graduate who excelled in basketball at both. He spent time in the military prior to attending Clarion University.

Jeffrey Messer:A graduate of Lee HS , and Springfield College where graduated in 1980. He played multiple sports in high school and lettered fours years in baseball at Springfield College. He then played professional baseball for one year in Holland. He started his baseball coaching career in 1983 at Westfield College, and from there he moved on to Oklahoma City University before becoming the head coach at Slippery Rock University in 1985. 2020 Marked Jeff Messer's 35th season with SRU's baseball program. His record has made him one of the top coaches in college baseball history. His current record ( thru 2020) is 1,016-664-5 gives him a .604 winning percentage. Averaging 30.1 wins per season over his career, ranks him 17th in NCAA Division II history. He has been named PSAC Coach of the year a record seven times, and named the Atlantic region Coach of the Year four times. Under coach Messer, Slippery Rock University baseball has won 15 PSAC West Division titles and has qualified for the PSAC Tournament 27 times since 1986, coming away tournament titles in 1991 and 2001. On the national stage he has coached 12 teams that have earned NCAA Tournament berths. Also since taking over the baseball program he has had 13 players selected in the Major League Baseball first year player draft. He has also been an active member in teh American Baseball Coaches Association, ascending to the role as president in 2017.

Martha Altmire: A Moniteau HS and Anderson College graduate who went on to have an outstanding basketball coaching career at Olean HS in New York. When she retired in 1996 she was the 5th in all time wins in the state of New York.

Curtis Schnur: A Butler HS graduate who played baseball and basketball, lettering four years in baseball. He went on to continue his baseball career at the University of Delaware. After an outstanding career at Delaware he was drafted by the Atlanta Braves as a pitcher, until 1996. He then played for local semi-pro baseball teams including the North Pittsburgh entrant in the Federation League helping them win championships. and also played for the Saxonburg entrant in the Butler Eagle County baseball league. Curt was instrumental in Saxonburg championship teams in 2004,, 2006, 2007 & 2009. Curt also had a successful high school baseball coaching career at Knoch HS, and was a finalist at the American Legion All East/West game in 1990.

Troy Nunes: A Butler HS graduate where he earned 10 athletic letters and several academic awards. He then went on to play football at the Syracuse University. His freshman year at Syracuse he was ECAC Rookie of the Week for his outstasding performance against the University of Pittsburgh. He played in three major bowls while at Syracuse as the quarterback. They were the Orange Bowl, Music City Bowl, and the Insight.com Bowl.

Tim McCune - Far Left

Eric Werner - # 6 with the 1983 Butler Yankees Champs

Dave Barnes -Far Right

Curt Schnur - Saxonburg Eagle County Baseball