BUTLER TWP — The Butler Football Hometown Hero program is going back to where it started.

Former Golden Tornado head football coach Garry Cathell and longtime assistant coach Ralph McElhaney — co-founders of the program 14 years ago — will be co-recipients of the Butler Football Hometown Hero Award prior to Friday night's Seneca Valley-Butler game.

“We wanted to come up with a way to honor and recognize all the great people involved with Butler football through the years,” Cathell said of the program's birth. “We wanted the kids to know about the history of the program.”

Cathell was head coach at Butler from 2002-06. He last coached at Elizabeth Forward in 2010, retiring from teaching and coaching in 2011.

McElhaney was an assistant coach at Butler High School for 34 years, working under seven different Golden Tornado head coaches. He also coached in the Butler Area Midget Football League for six years, winning the BAMFL title with East Butler in 1999.

“I love working with Butler kids,” McElhaney said. “It never seemed to matter who the head coach was. Each head coach had different philosophies.

“Sometimes you agreed with them, sometimes you didn't. But the thrill and satisfaction of working with those kids was always there.”

McElhaney often tells the story of a Butler football player who approached him years ago asking if a Steeler quarterback named Terry ever played for Butler.

When he responded yes, “the kid said he never knew Terry Bradshaw went to Butler,” McElhaney said. “I explained it was Terry Hanratty ... That's when I knew we had to do something to show the kids of today the proud history of Butler football.”

The Hometown Hero program debuted in 2004, bringing back former Butler players who went on to play in the NFL. Through the years, the program has honored longtime assistant coaches, clock operators, members of the chain gang, film crew, longtime boosters, etc.

“It's changed a lot through the years,” said McElhaney, who has remained on the Butler Football Hometown Hero committee since its inception.

Cathell has gone on to become executive director of the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association, an organization he's been an active member with for 30 years. He won over 100 games as a high school head coach.

Also serving as executive director of the Big 33 Game, Cathell was founder of the Tri-County Football Coaches Association and organizer for the Pa. East/West All-Star Game.

He also sits on the USA Football National Executive Board.

“That was only formed about a year and a half ago,” Cathell said of the national board. “We wanted to form a national alliance and give high school football a stronger voice.

“I love working with the Pennsylvania coaches and I particularly enjoyed my time in Butler. I coached with some great people there, met a lot of quality people who I'm looking forward to seeing again.”

Cathell said he still keeps in touch with many of his former players on Facebook.

“Those kids were hungry and wanted to win so badly,” he said.

Cathell and McElhaney are looking forward to Friday's festivities, which include a dinner and Hometown Hero induction program at 5 p.m. in the high school cafeteria, followed by a presentation on the field at Art Bernardi Stadium.

“I'm very honored and humbled by this,” said Cathell, who lives in Elizabeth. “It's taken a crew of a lot of good people to make that (Hometown Hero) thing go abnd I'm proud to have been a part of it.”

McElhaney has often served as master of ceremonies at previous Butler Football Hometown Hero ceremonies.

“I'm a much better presenter than receiver,” he said. “I grew up in Butler, played for Butler, had some great mentors, teachers and coaches.

“I'm excited about Friday. It's going to be fun.”