Running To Glory
This is the ninth in a series of articles profiling the 2020 Butler County Sports Hall of Fame inductees.
BUTLER TWP — Once Don Hinchberger started running, there was no stopping him.
The 1962 Butler graduate is reaching a finish line he's quite proud of — induction into the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame.
A member of Butler High School's first cross country team, Hinchberger was a WPIAL and state placer in the sport, which began during his senior year. He also set the school record in the 880-yard run that lasted for 15 years.
Hinchberger will be inducted into the BCSHOF during the organization's annual banqet at 6 p.m. Aug. 8 at the Butler Days Inn. The fete was originally scheduled for April 25, but was postponed.
“I'm honored by it,” Hinchberger said of the induction. “I never anticipated it. I thought my brother Bill would go in before me.”
Hinchberger is part of a running family. He and his older brother Bill received full scholarships in track at the University of Pittsburgh. Two other brothers — Jim (Cincinnati) and Dave (West Chester) — received partial scholarships to run in college.
“I ran the 880 in two minutes, two seconds my junior year,” Hinchberger said. “That was pretty good back then.”
He lost in that event only twice his senior season at Butler. One of those defeats came in the WPIAL's state qualifier. He placed third in the 880 at the WPIAL meet, missing out on a trip to the state meet by a tenth of a second.
Hinchberger was a three-year letterman in track, was a top-10 finisher in the WPIAL Cross Country Championships, was co-captain of the Tornado's cross country and track teams and placed 15th in the PIAA Cross Country Championships.The latter achievement helped Butler place third at the state cross country meet in its inaugural season.Hinchberger teamed with Howard Hammond, David Huff and David Eichenlaub to form a formidable relay unit at Butler. Their mile relay ranked fifth in the nation and set WPIAL and state records. Their WPIAL mile relay record stood for 30 years.The foursome also set records in the WPIAL distance medley and two-mile relay.“We were always running together,” Hinchberger said. “That cross country season really helped us. We all improved by competed during the fall.”While at Pitt, Hinchberger got his 880 time down to 1:53. He was part of a sprint medley relay that placed second at the Penn Relays. He was also a member of the Panthers' undefeated cross country team.“That Penn Relays medal ... I felt like that was my biggest accomplishment in sports,” Hinchberger said.While attending Pitt, Hinchberger was one of nine athletes who lived at Pitt Stadium. He was a resident in one of the three three-person rooms there.“Those were fun times. I could wake up and watch Pitt (football team) or the Steelers play,” he said. “When our (Butler) high school team came down to a cross country meet at Schenley Park, I'd get the team in to watch the football game.”Hinchberger graduated from Pitt with a degree in economics and sociology. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and attended officer candidate school, progressing through the ranks.He wound up with a career in rehabilitative counseling.“(Butler cross country coach) Ed Hepe and Pitt changed my life,” Hinchberger said.Tickets for the Hall of Fame banquet are $30 in advance, $35 at the door. Tables of eight are $200. Tickets are available at Parker's Appliance in Chicora, Moses Jewelers at the Clearview Mall, The Butler Radio Network in Butler and Saxonburg Drug.
