EAST BUTLER — The East Butler Baseball Association Complex sits on top of a big hill.

Longtime East Butler legion and youth baseball coach Dess Schnur likes to say the complex “is built on a mountain of men.”

“This whole facility was put together through volunteerism,” Schnur said. “We haven't had to pay anyone.”

The EBBA complex features three baseball diamonds of varying sizes, a concession stand in the middle and a monument that pays tribute to the volunteers who helped make it all happen. That monument was erected in 2001 as part of the EBBA's 50th anniversary season.

The names of the EBBA's 15 “founding fathers” are listed at the top of the monument. A memorial honor roll — which takes on additional names periodically — is listed below.

“There is no judge, no panel that reviews applications for that honor roll,” Schnur said. “Those names are of deserved deceased individuals who contributed to this association.

“If someone believes a name deserves to go on there and submits the application, that name goes on there.”

Two more names — Glenn Schoentag and Dale Schnur — have been added this year, bring the memorial honor roll list to 27. Schoentag and Dale Schnur's legacies will be celebrated during a ceremony and dinner at 4;30 p.m. Sept. 10 at the EBBA Complex.

Combined, Schoentag and Schnur provided more than 100 years of service to the EBBA. Both are East Butler natives. Both played baseball in the association and coached for many years.

“I think this is a great thing,” Glenn's wife, Cindy Schoentag said. “Glenn coached his grandson only a couple of years ago. He was always involved in something up here.”

Besides coaching, Schoentag took part in field maintenance and major projects at the complex. He umpired games from farm league to legion as well.

“I remembered painting the chain link fence with Glenn up here. We were a tandem, side by side,” Cindy said, smiling. “By the end of the day, I was covered with paint as much as the fence was.”

Dale Schnur was a member of the first East Butler Little League in 1952 and played on East Butler teams for the next 10 years. He helped to form the NBC Pony League in 1980.

While Glenn and Dale were involved in that league, its player registration increased from 175 to 325.

“Dale was one of the guys who wanted to give East Butler kids a team to play on at home after the age of 12,” Dess Schnur said. “That's how the Pony League got started.”

Dale and his wife, Linda, had a food business and they wound up supplying the concession stand that way.”

“I worked in concessions for a while up here. We built up quite a business,” Linda Schnur said.

“Dale was always passionate about baseball. Our first few dates were spent up here working on the ball fields.”

Dale Schnur and Schoentag both had children who followed in their footsteps by playing baseball at East Butler.

Dale Schnur also held baseball clinics, dances and band performances to benefit the growth of the complex.

“We had a band together that played and gave all of the money to East Butler baseball,” Dess Schnur said. “This complex has formed a bond for many people over the years.”

EAST BUTLER MEMORIAL MONUMENT

Founding Fathers

Ralph Goldinger Sr., Floyd Trimbur, Jay Poole, Vern Ross, ed Hagan, Ralph Angert, John Santus, Ken Bell, Ed Hume, Chuck Hetrick, George J. Schnur, Bud Seybert, Ralph Smith Sr., Orville Andrews, Dick Cupps

Memorial Honor Roll

Ike Daubenspeck, Tommy Nicholson, Frank G. Gehelsky, Sam Gallagher, Hike McMillin, Bud Kildoo, Jack Hesidence, Eugene “Jake” Hilderbrand, Jerry Reddick, John Rudish, Judy A. Young, John “Shorty” Paserba, Chuck Cornetti Sr., Robert L. Deal Sr., Dennis Roper, Gene Farnen, Don Schnur, Doug Walker, Kevin Fencil, Jesse James, Ralph Edwards, Linda McMillin, Dave McMillin, Mike Coyle, Wesley Zablocki, Glenn C. Schoentag, Dale E. Schnur