It seems everyone in and around Butler knows Bob Geagan.

A state constable, he gets around a lot, professionally speaking. He's been doing that law enforcement gig for nearly 20 years.

He's even better known — a borderline legend — for his good nature, story telling and sense of humor.

On Thursday night, Geagan accidentally found himself on center stage. But this was no laughing matter.

Toward the end of a meeting of the Butler County Law Enforcement Association, held at the American Legion post in Highfield, the jovial crowd of around 80 suddenly became quiet.

At one of the tables, Harold Schneider, in his 80s and in a wheelchair, began choking, unable to breathe.

Two tables away, Geagan heard the commotion and looked over.

“I saw Harry holding his throat, gasping for air,”Geagan said.

At that very moment, he didn't know that Schneider, while taking medication, got a pill lodged in his throat, partially cutting off his air supply.

“He couldn't talk,” said Saxonburg District Judge Sue Haggerty, who was seated at the table across from Schneider. “He could only move his arms.”

Haggerty and Slippery Rock District Judge Bill O'Donnell, who also was seated at Schneider's table, quickly grew concerned for their long-time friend's life.

A retired businessman, Schneider owns Rolling Ridge Farms, a nearly 1,000-acre spread in Concord Township. He is an associate member of the county's law enforcement association

“I got up and kind of yelled, “Hey, does anyone know the Heimlich maneuver?” O'Donnell said.

“We knew he needed a big guy to pick him up,” Haggerty added.

Geagan didn't hesitate to answer the call.

“He came running around and had hold of Harold,” O'Donnell said of Geagan.

But Schneider being in a wheelchair presented a challenge.

“I had to pick him up out of it,” Geagan said.

The Heimlich maneuver involves embracing a victim from behind and shoving a fist below the rib cage to force air into the throat.

“Harold kept slipping on Bob,” O'Donnell said in recounting Geagan's efforts to lift Schneider into position to perform the life-saving procedure.

Geagan eventually managed, and after five or six thrusts of pressure on Schneider's diaphragm, the airway block was dislodge.

“The pill popped out,” O'Donnell said.

“It was a big pill,” Haggerty said, “but he had cut it in half.”

Out of relief for Schneider and in recognition of Geagan, the room burst into applause.

“It was awesome,” Haggerty said. “Bob really stepped up. Thank God.”

Schneider was still recovering from his ordeal and he was unavailable for comment Friday.

Those close to him said he has sore ribs but no other apparent ill effects. Plans were being made with his physician to have an X-ray taken.

Geagan's quick action, meanwhile, earned him plenty of praise.

“I told Bob afterward that he's like a hero,” O'Donnell said. “He actually saved a guy's life.

The modest Geagan would have none of that.

“I just did what anyone else would have done,” he said. “I just got there quicker than anybody.”

Asked how he learned the Heimlich maneuver, Geagan couldn't say.

“I'm not sure,” he said, “I think I may have seen it on TV.”