Confession time.

When the announcement occurred three years ago that Butler High School was creating its own athletic hall of fame, I cringed a little bit.

We already have the Butler County Athletic Hall of Fame. Do we really need another one?

That was my thinking then.

That is not my thinking now.

Forming a Butler Athletic Hall of Fame had been on legendary football coach Art Bernardi’s mind for years. It was a vision of his to have a forum somewhere on school grounds where people could see and read about the athletic greats the school has produced over the years.

For him, it was all about Butler tradition on display.

And he was right.

Prior to Butler starting its own Hall of Fame, Mars and Seneca Valley started their own, as well. Slippery Rock High School has one, too.

Every high school should have one, actually.

There have been plenty of standout athletes and coaches to come through every high school in this area.

Every student who goes through the halls at Karns City High School in coming years should know all about the Gremlins’ 2000 girls basketball team that won the state title.

Moniteau students should forever be aware of the exploits of Tyler Grossman on the basketball court.

Jeff Christy came out of Freeport to become a stellar NFL player. Karen Davis was ultra-successful as a boys and girls basketball coach at Union.

Schools that are now consolidations of former high schools no longer in existence in the county could recognize athletes from those extinct schools in their Halls of Fame.

Obviously, some school districts are much larger than others and their Hall of Fame membership will be bigger.

But any school district could put together a Hall of Fame in some way, shape or form.

Achievements from yesteryear can serve as motivation for young athletes today. Records are made to be broken, championships are made to be matched.

Current athletes should be proud of the athletic heritage laid down before them. And the school should be proud enough to display it.

Any former athlete or coach from a school would list it among the thrills of his or her lifetime to receive that phone call informing that person of the induction.

Another plus to having Hall of Fame inductees displayed near the basketball gym or some other athletic facility on school grounds is to show off that tradition to visiting folks from other schools.

On many occasions, an onlooker may realize that “I never knew that person went to school here.”

High school hall of fames are a good thing, a worthwhile thing, a beneficial thing.

I should have recognized that earlier.

All schools should recognize it now.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle.