Butler names HOF class
BUTLER TWP — The third class of the Butler High School Athletic Hall of Fame is in place.
Mickey Uram, Eric Hohn, Mike Kelly, Jeff McAnallen, Bill McElroy, Curt Schnur, Pete Steenbergen, Tom Turner and Steve Heasley will join the Hall during an induction ceremony prior to the football game between Pine-Richland and Butler on Sept. 14.
A reception for the inductees will take place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the high school cafeteria. The inductees will be presented on the field at Art Bernardi Stadium at 6:45 p.m. and will formally receive their awards there.
A synopsis of each inductee follows:
Mickey UramHe won multiple individual WPIAL and state championships while lettering all four years for the Golden Tornado varsity gymnastics team during the 1960s.Uram received a full scholarship to Michigan State and was captain of the team his final two years, earning All-Big Ten recognition. He went on to become a longtime assistant baseball coach at Butler.
Eric HohnA four-year letterman in baseball at Butler, he earned all-section honors as a pitcher in 1981 and 1982 and was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1982.Hohn went on to play for Penn State, lettered four years there and was team MVP in 1986. He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals that year.
Mike KellyConsidered by Art Bernardi to be the best offensive tackle ever to play for the legendary Butler football coach, Kelly was All-WPIAL and all-state his senior year.He went on to accept a football scholarship at Notre Dame, where a knee injury during his sophomore season prematurely ended his playing career.
Jeff McAnallenA three-year starting lineman for the Tornado football team from 1987-89, McAnallen also stood out in track and field and was part of two WPIAL team track championships.McAnallen went on to become a three-year letterman and two-year starting lineman at the University of Tulsa, where he played for the 1991 Freedom Bowl champions.
Bill McElroyA three-sport athlete at Butler, McElroy played basketball, football and threw the shot put and discus in track and field. He was the MVP among Butler field athletes his senior year and was first-team All-WPIAL as a lineman in football.McElroy went on to start at guard or center for three years at West Virginia University. He played in four bowl games, including the Sugar Bowl when WVU was vying for the national championship.
Curt SchnurA three-year letterman as a pitcher for the Tornado, Schnur was named Butler’s outstanding pitcher in 1990 and 1991. He was 10-1 with a 1.39 earned run average as a senior.He went on to the University of Delaware, where he fashioned a 23-9 career record and was second in the nation among Division I pitchers with a 1.21 ERA in 1995.
Pete SteenbergenA stellar tennis player at Butler, he was a state doubles semifinalist in 1972 and a WPIAL singles semifinalist in 1973 under Hall of Fame coach Dave Barnes.Steenbergen went on to become three-time team MVP for Haverford College and was a Division III All-American in 1976 and 1977.
Tom TurnerA standout swimmer for the Tornado, Turner was the 1974 WPIAL champion in the 200-yard freestyle and placed in events seven other times in WPIAL meets. He was a seven-time state placer as well.After moving on to Syracuse University, Turner was named the Orangemen’s outstanding swimmer during his junior and senior year. He set school and pool records there.
Steve HeasleyGaining induction for his gymnastics coaching stint at Butler, Heasley’s girls gymnastics teams were 54-2 with two WPIAL championships and numerous individual state champions from 1977-82.He was a teacher in the Butler Area School District for 34 years and founded the Butler Gymnastics Club in 1974, helping a number of area gymnasts gain full college scholarships.
