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Friday, July 21, 2006

Butler's Sculptor in Metal ~ Bill Secunda

Bill Secunda has become a prominent American metal sculptor. His works can be seen in museums, zoos, racetracks, a senator's office, or wandering across someone’s back yard, the possibilities are endless. 

Friday, July 07, 2006

Butler's Born Actor ~ Frederick West McCarren ~ BHS '69

✝ 2006
Fred McCarren was one of the brightest stars on Butler High School's stage. We remember him in My Fair Lady, Once Upon a Mattress, Little Me and other excellent productions.
Thank you, Fred, for your unforgettable stage presence and the delight you gave us.
We fell for you!

Thursday, June 29, 2006

Welcome Visitor to Butler ~ The Bald Eagle

The Pennsylvania Game Commission reports that there are two active Bald Eagle nests in Butler County.
Greetings to you, High Flyers !

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Stoughton's Beach ~ We Loved It

One of the best treats we had as kids was when we'd pack into the car and head up Route 8 to Stoughton's Beach.

Monday, June 19, 2006

Butler's Television Star ~ Josie Carey

† 2004
One of Butler's stars in the world of television was Josie Carey. Some Butlerites still know her as Josephine Vicari. She hosted WQED's long running Children's Corner and her name was immortalized for millions of children as that of Fred Rogers' puppet, Daniel Striped Tiger. She wrote lyrics for 68 songs for her show. Butler and Pittsburg cannot forget Josie Carey.

Friday, June 16, 2006

Saxonburg's Founder ~ John August Roebling

Saxonburg celebrates its founder's 200th Birthday Anniversary ~ John Roebling is the Inventor of Twisted Steel Cable that made it possible for him to build the famous Brooklyn
Bridge. Congratulations Saxonburg.


Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Photographer Don Carlson ~ BHS '38

HEADLAND'S LUNCH CAR - owned by Bob Headland and his wife, Etta, in the 1930s and 40s, it was situated on W. Cunningham St. just east of the Clinton Hotel and Sullivan Run (creek), next door to Ray Andre General Tire and across the street from Klugh's Market and Adolph's Drug Store. It serviced not only Butler residents, including many from Armco, and a lot of through traffic on the then busy Rt. 422. [Don Carlson, the photographer, and his brother, Bill, worked there in the late 30s for $12.85 a week plus all they could eat.]

- Don Carlson

Friday, June 02, 2006

Butler's Town Lake

This happens in Butler. Can you figure out what it is?
Old Wayne Street Viaduct
Photo: Sam Menchyk

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Butler Airport ~ Our Early Interest in Flying


BUTLER AIRPORT - small planes lined up at the old Butler Airport which was located along New Castle Road just across from Deshon Hospital and is now the location for a shopping center. Bob Headland was one of the early promoters of aviation in the Butler area. (I flew in and out of this airport and Pgh/Butler airport in the early 40s before enlisting in the Air Corps.)
- Don Carlson

Friday, May 19, 2006

Dairy Queen ~ Dan Joseph BHS '56

. . . and it wasn't far from our High School.
My dad built and ran the Dairy Queen at top of New Castle Street hill in the early 50's. I worked there when I was a teenager until I went to the Marines in 1956 just after graduating from Butler High School.
Dan Joseph
E-mail: itsmefolks@centurylink.net

Sunday, May 14, 2006

Remember This? ~ 10,000 Meter Race

In 1979 nearly one thousand runners competed in the annual Ten Thousand Meter Race. The winning time was 30 minutes 18 seconds. And the first prize was a silver bowl.
Photo: Jack Bowman

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Sgt. Major Abie Abraham ~ Bataan



For generations of Butlerites since the Battle of the Pacific in World War II the name Sgt. Abie Abraham has been synonymous with the infamous Bataan Death March. While fighting a hopeless battle and surviving two and a half years of inhuman imprisonment Stg. Abraham showed the noblest human qualities. He was the only soldier who fought on Bataan to see the final Japanese surrender.

You have received many honors, Abie, but there is no Medal of Honor that can represent our pride or render adequate gratitude to you for the valiant spirit you have left us to emulate.

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Butler Country Club ~ Butler's Lushest

Butler Country Club ~ First Fairway
Does the Butler area have the most golf courses? ~ 16

Aubrey's Golf Course
Conley Golf Course Resort
Cranberry Highlands Golf Course
Hiland Public Golf Course
Lake Arthur Country Club
Lake Vue North Golf Course
Mount Chestnut Golf Course
Pine Needles Par 3
Saxon Golf Course
Serene Valley Golf Course
Stoughton Acres Golf Course
Suncrest Golf Course
Butler Country Club
Armco Country Club
Krendale
Rittswood

Forty-Six Years Ago ~


Main Street, December 1960

Thanks: Brian Crouch

Sunday, April 23, 2006

Jimmy Stewart ~ Butler's Kick Boxing Champion

Jimmy Stewart
Super Welterweight World Champion
International Kick Boxing Federation
Were' on our feet, Jimmy, and applauding!

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Alameda Park ~ Coming Back to Life

Alameda Park 1901
Jump on the streetcar or ride out there on your bike and you were in a summer paradise. Will the new Alameda Park be like the one we had? 
[Carousel where the streetcar is parked.]

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Oneida Dam ~

Oneida Dam
A beauty spot near town, and our local fishing haunt.

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Acknowledgement

Thanks to Elizabeth and Robert Johnson BHS '53 for their help with these blog postings.

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Butler, Pa. ~ Avant-garde Architecture

Playthings Etc.
New Toy Shop in Butler
Owners Todd and Nadine Shingleton BHS '75
Congratulations to both of you for your daring idea. You keep Butler forward-
looking.
Photo: Paul Johnston Jr.

Monday, April 03, 2006

Sunday, April 02, 2006

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Melanie Buczko at Bucknell ~ Breaking Records


Our Melanie Buczko in her Senior year at Bucknell is breaking records. She set a new school record with a leap of 13'3 1/2 then shattered her own school record in a the vault at the NYU FastTimes Invitational soaring over the bar at 13'5 1/2" . Melanie has won Bucknell's first-ever ECAC indoor gold medal with a clearance of 12'9 1/2".

Melanie, we're all watching you, with fingers crossed. . . shoving, to get you up and over!

Sunday, March 26, 2006

BHS '53 ~ Recent News

March 2006, Get-together
We had a lot of fun since Shirley Deal Shook brought a sheet of cheers she had found among her souvenirs:
A RICKETTY, A RICKITTY, A RICKETTYA RAH, RAH, RAH
[Who is that strange male among all those women?
Does that look like Dick Powers?]

Friday, March 24, 2006

Monday, March 13, 2006

Our Football Gem ~ Terry Hanratty ~ BHS '64

Terry Hanratty — our Butler High School star quarterback. Terry went on to become one of Notre Dame's outstanding quarterbacks, completing 304 of 550 passes for 4,152 yards and 27 touchdowns at Notre Dame. When he left ND in 1968, he held the all-time Irish record for attempts, completions and passing yards. He still holds the Notre Dame record with 63 pass attempts in a single game.Terry's pro football career was spent with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1969-75 and Tampa Bay in 1976.
You made us proud, Terry.

Monday, March 06, 2006

William J. Perry ~ Secretary of Defense ~ BHS '45

A onetime resident of Butler, William Perry is now a Professor at Stanford University. He is an expert in U.S. foreign policy, national security and arms control. He was the 19th Secretary of Defense for the United States, serving under President Clinton from February 1994 to January 1997.


Sunday, February 26, 2006

St. Fidelis Seminary ~ Cardinal O'Malley


A onetime seminarian at St. Fidelis Seminary near Butler,Pa. Sean O'Malley, has just been elevated to the office of Clardinal by Pope Benedict XVI. Cardinal O'Malley began preparing for the priesthood at the age of 13 in 1957 at St. Fidelis Seminary. Congratulations and to Cardinal O'Malley and the Capuchin Order from well-wishing Butlerites.

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Student of Butler Teacher ~ Olympic Silver Medal

Stephanie Boehler and her German teammates win Olympic Silver in the Women's Cross Country Event. Stephanie was the student of Charles Cingolani at St. Blasien College in Germany.

Monday, January 30, 2006

Prizewinning Photographer ~ Dick Gamble


Nature's Best Photography magazine has selected Dick Gamble's underwater entry to be one of twelve photos for publication in their 2005 Fall Collector’s Edition. Moreover, Dick's award-winning photo is now being displayed at the prestigious Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History from November until April.
Dick Gamble is a '58 graduate of BHS. He and his wife Juli now live in San Diego.

Congratulations Dick!

Monday, January 16, 2006

Eric Namesnik~ Butler's Olympic Medalist


When Eric stepped up on the podium to receive his silver medals at the '92 and '96 Olympics everyone in Butler trembled with pride. Eric died in a car accident on his way to swim practice last Saturday. A colleague at the University of Michigan where Eric was a swim coach said: "Eric wasn't flashy, he was kind of a quiet guy, but with a deep, deep resolve. He had the heart of a champion, with all the things you think a great athlete should be. He was just the best."

That's how we feel about you Eric, and bow to you in recognition for your accomplishments.

Our condolences to Eric's wife and two children, Austin, 5, and Madison, 2 who live in Ann Arbor, Michigan and his parents who live here in Butler.

Sunday, January 01, 2006

Judge Martin J. O'Brien ~ BHS '48


Judge Martin J. O'Brien is retiring after nineteen-and-a-half years of service to Butler County. He is a 1948 graduate of BHS and a 1955 graduate of Georgetown University Law School. He practiced law for 28 years in Butler before being appointed to the bench. His service has been of untold value to Butler and Butler County. We thank you wholeheartedly, Judge O'Brien.

Match cover from the 1986 campaign.

Friday, December 16, 2005

Jim Simons ~ Our Homegrown Golfer

Jim Simons, as an amateur, came within three strokes of the U.S. Open Title in 1971. Jim's performance was arguably one of the finest by an amateur in the post-World War II era. Jim had a two-stroke lead heading into the final round, only to shoot a 6-over 76 and tie for fifth, three shots behing Jack Nicklaus and Lee Travino.

Jim died on 8 December. He was 55. From Butler we send condolences to his three sons, his mother and father as well as his three sisters.

† 8 December 2005

Thursday, December 08, 2005

Diehl's Bakery

Remember the Diehl Bakery [later Chandler's Bakery] at the foot of Center Avenue . . . and the sweet smell of bread when passing by?

Photo: Steven Golubski

Monday, November 21, 2005

Admiral Jonathan Greenert ~ BHS '71

Jonathan Greenert, native of Butler, is now Chief of Naval Operations
as of Sept. 23, 2011.
Commenting on his hometown he said: "You take what you learned from growing up and from high school, and you apply it to real life. I'm very proud of being from Butler".

We salute you, Admiral Greenert.

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

We're Proud of You ~ Norma Norris



In 1987, after hearing a sermon by Msgr. Francis Glenn in St. Paul's Church, lamenting the fact that local prosecutors and law enforcement agencies had been deluded into thinking that people didn’t care about the hardcore porn being sold in their neighbor-hoods, Norma Norris gave herself the challenge to inspire the Butler community to send out the message: "We Care - We Count". She adopted the White Ribbon as a symbol for decency and a new movement was born involving many organizations, churches, and citizens in Butler County.

Now her White Ribbon Against Pornography campaign has spread nationwide. This year, the week of October 26 through Novermber 2 is nationally recognized as Pornography Awareness Week. Thank you, Norma.