The Butler Area School District Athletic Hall of Fame is coming.

Deadline for nominations for the inaugural class, which be inducted early in the 2010-11 school year, most likely at a football game, is Dec. 31.

This Hall of Fame is not to be confused with the Butler Area Athletic Hall of Fame, which has honored legendary athletes and coaches from Butler County for 43 years.

This newly formed Hall of Fame is designed to honor Butler High School's own, and the inductees' names and achievements will grace the halls of the school forever.

The inaugural class will consist of up to 10 individuals, along with a possible coach/administrator. Potential inductees can't be considered until at least 10 years have passed since their graduating class.

That knocks people like Meghan Schnur and Tyrell Sales out of the running — at least for now.

That leaves plenty of people to be considered.

A 10-person induction class sounds like a lot. When looking at the number of stellar athletes to go through that school, it seems like not enough.

All of the great athletes eventually will find their way into this Hall, but who should go in first?

In football alone, you have members of the 1950 unbeaten team, along with the great Tornado teams from the 1960s and '70s. The Saul brothers, Terry Hanratty, Dale Betty, Bill Rettig, Ed Hartman, Rodger Puz, Scott Milanovich and Troy Nunes are just a few.

Eric Namesnik and David Pichler made names for themselves in Olympic swimming, Mickey Uram, Dave McKinnis and numerous others in gymnastics.

There's always John Aubrey in golf, John Stuper in baseball, Mark Maier and Mark Smith in basketball.

When choosing female athletes, there's Leatha Dudeck, Erin Ward and others to consider.

Looking for more recent names? Matt Clement and Brian Minto are eligible.

These are just a few names. There are countless others.

Who are the best of Butler's best?

This inaugural 10-member induction class will be special, indeed.

While there is a Hall of Fame committee that will elect this class, nominations and suggestions can come from anywhere and anybody.

The committee isn't going to know every potentially deserving inductee, especially going back a number of years. That's what makes community support of this venture so important.

Nomination forms are available in the Butler High athletic office or online at goldentornadosports.net.

To be eligible for nomination, the individual must have participated and made an impact in Butler varsity athletics or achieved a major athletic accomplishment. Coaches don't have to be Butler graduates.

Participation is vital to make this Hall of Fame all-inclusive and successful now and for years to come.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle.