BUTLER TWP — Rick Reeder and his wife went pre-bowling for their league at Family Bowlaway one day in 1982.

Reeder, who will turn 61 in June, has been an integral part of youth bowling in Butler ever since.

“We had our boys (Greg and Jim) with us and were told they had a youth program there,” Reeder recalled. “We were asked if we’d be interested in signing them up.”

He did more than sign them up. He signed himself up as well.

“The youth association needed some coaches, so I went to coaching school and joined up,” Reeder said. “I learned how to teach kids proper technique, fit them with bowling balls, things like that.”

Reeder became president of the Butler County USBC Youth Association in 1988. His 27-year reign at that position ended Saturday, when he officially resigned the post.

“I noticed I’ve been working with kids of kids I worked with years before. I figured I’d better get out before their grand-kids start coming along,” Reeder joked.

During his tenure, Reeder has worked with thousands of kids and youth coaches. Some of them threw him a surprise farewell party Saturday as the 2013-14 youth bowling season ended.

“It’s going to be hard to see him go,” county youth bowling manager Rhonda Schnitzki said. “He’s an awesome guy, not only through his working with and coaching the kids, but as an individual.

“Rick is a very caring person. If he can help you, he will.”

Greg and Jim Reeder were on hand to help honor their father.

“He’s a guy who will help people with anything, not just bowling,” Jim said. “Dad always taught us that bowling had a lot to do with patience ... I was never any good with the patience part.

“We’ve been out of youth bowling for 12 years now and he’s still kept at it. I always told him he’d be bored on Saturday mornings if he ever quit.”

Now that Reeder is vacating the post, what will he do on Saturday mornings?

“Honestly, I have no idea ... I’ll probably pop in here every now and then,” he said.

His oldest son doesn’t doubt it.

“He’s cared about every kid who’s come through here,” Greg Reeder said. “He gets a big kick out of working with them. He enjoys teaching.”

Butler’s youth bowling program had 65 to 70 kids when Rick Reeder took over. The program peaked with numbers in the 120’s. This year, the program had 95 kids on Saturday mornings at Family Bowlaway.

Reeder said one of his youth bowlers — Mark Johnson — threw the first 300-game in the Pennsylvania Youth State Tournament.

“Brian Marcellus, Kurt Huff, Chris Creek ... some of the best bowlers in Butler County have come through this program,” Reeder said proudly. “Many of the bowlers in adult leagues around here today were once youth bowlers here. They learned the game here.

“Some of our former youth bowlers have come back to help coach in the program. That means a lot, too.”

One of the youth bowling coaches on Saturday morning, Darlene Bailey, has been coaching for 27 years.

“I love working with kids,” Bailey said. They are amazing. And Rick is super fantastic. He’s always a lot of help to all of us.”

“It’s people like Darlene who make this program what it is,” Reeder said.

Reeder’s bowling average never exceeded 187. He never returned to the game as an active bowler since having a knee replacement in 2003.

He’s coached many bowlers to heights he never achieved himself.

“That’s the best part of this, seeing a little kid join the program, start bowling for the first time and develop into an accomplished bowler who loves the game and stays with the game,” Reeder said.

“Seeing the high school form a team and watching our kids make such an impact on its success is very rewarding to see.”

Family Bowlaway general manager Andy Hevesy said Reeder’s act will be a tough one to follow.

“You can’t ask for a better mentor to the kids,” he said. “Rick simply goes above and beyond. From the time he gets up on Saturdays, straight through the tournament season, he’s taken care of these kids.”