It's all about giving back.

That's the what the O'Donnell family, Dave Cavalero, Don Dombart and Dr. John "Doc" Graham, the 2009 Butler Football Hometown Hero award recipients, have in common

The group was honored with a reception before Butler's football season opener and with an induction dinner at St. Michael's Hall last weekend.

The O'Donnell family consisted of William and Corinne O'Donnell and their children, Karen, Bill, Jim, Kevin and Jeff.

"Dad was one of the founding members of the Butler Quarterback Club," Kevin O'Donnell said. "He started the family's support of Butler football and the rest of us have continued on.

"Long after we were through with our high school careers, we were fortunate enough to open businesses in Butler — and fortunate enough to continue supporting the athletic program here through those businesses."

The O'Donnell family owns O'Donnell Distributing and Snack n' Pack in Butler.

Corinne O'Donnell was involved with the Butler Football Mothers Club and supported the marching band. Karen was a drummer in the band and is a private teacher of percussion today. Many of her students are members of the Butler band.

Bill O'Donnell played football at Butler and later coached East Butler baseball, Center Township football and church league basketball. Jimmy played football for Meridian and was a running back for Butler. He supported Tornado football until his death in 1996.

Kevin coached the Meridian Raiders, was a member of the Quarterback Club and serves on the Butler Area Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors. Jeff played football for Meridian until becoming legally blind at age 11. He continued to be involved in football in high school as an equipment manager and trainer.

"We used to take four buses of fans with us to road games when we played," Kevin O'Donnell said. "There was overwhelming support back then. We've always appreciated that.

"Being the first family to be honored by this program is special to us. All the great sports families who live in Butler ... it's overwhelming, actually."

Cavalero played quarterback for the Golden Tornado from 1965-67, when Butler compiled a 24-3 record.

"I played during the golden era of Butler football, from 1962 through about 1975," Cavalero said. "It's amazing how many people around here remember you because you played football in this town."

Cavalero later coached Institute Hill's Midget football team and has donated time to raising scholarship money and fundraising for Butler football.

"We were a band of brothers and we still keep in touch with each other," Cavalero said. "At least once a year, we all get together and lie to each other a little more."

Dombart was a successful baseball coach at Butler — producing 15 winning seasons in 17 years — and later served as equipment manager for 13 years under coaches Tim Nunes, Bill Bohren, Sam Albert and Mark Farabee.

"We used to have a student manager in charge of the equipment and Tim wanted an adult to be in charge," Dombart said. "He asked me and I accepted.

"There was plenty to do on game nights and practices. We had to change spikes on shoes, face masks — when you have more than 100 players, that's a task."

Dombart also was a basketball and football official for 15 years. He worked games on Saturday afternoons, so he could keep Friday nights clear for Butler football.

"Doc" Graham kept his Friday nights open as well, despite serving the community as an orthopedic doctor.

He worked the chains at Butler home games for 29 years, from 1956 to 1985, getting started when neighbor and then Butler coach A.G. Cappezutti asked for his help.

Graham was a halfback for Butler football during his high school years.

Graham was elected to the Butler Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1990, two years after his death.

"Dad worked on the kids at halftime, whenever he was needed," said Cheri Gallagher, Graham's daughter. "He served a dual role at those games. He never missed one."

Gallagher has attended Butler football games for years and "is sports oriented because of him," Graham's widow, Marian Tritch, said.