By his own admittance, Steve Gilliland was the class clown in high school.

That was good in some ways, not so good in others.

A 1976 Butler graduate, Gilliland’s comedic and brash personality enabled him to be the emcee at his high school’s Senior Queen assembly and at the Class of 1976 Senior Banquet.

It also cost him a spot on the high school baseball team after his freshman season. Gilliland was part of a legendary Golden Tornado pitching staff his freshman year that included seniors Terry McGarrah and Bob Solari, juniors George Pakutz, Bob Nichol, Bill Rodda, and sophomore Dale Webb.

He threw three consecutive no-hitters for Center Township in the Meridian Little League Tournament. After an impressive freshman season, Gilliland was seemingly on his way to a stellar high school career on the mound.

But it never happened.

He didn’t like where he stood in the pitching pecking order for Butler going into his sophomore season, mouthed off to the coach and quit. He did not pitch in a high school game again.

“God blessed me with much athletic ability, but my attitude back then wasn’t what it is today,” Gilliland said. “When I left Butler, I didn’t know what my destiny would be, but one thing I did know, the people I knew who were the happiest were not getting more, but those who were giving more.

“I made many mistakes, and as I have grown older, I am grateful for the lessons learned and the wisdom earned.”

In other words, the lightbulb went on inside his head. Gilliland began using his personality for the betterment of others instead of a detriment to himself.

Gilliland is now a member of the Speaker Hall of Fame. He’s done comedy on SiriusXM Radio and has spoke in front of audiences encompassing 51 industries, in all 50 states and 15 countries. He’s written 13 books, describing how individuals can make a difference in the world by influencing and affecting others in a positive way.

His personal focus is on none of those accomplishments.

Gilliland cares about his message — and he has plenty.

He and his wife, Diane, started the Gilliland Foundation in 2017 to make the lives of children with pediatric cancer and underprivileged people better. He and other volunteers physically build backyard play-sets for kids fighting cancer.

“That time is well worth it when you see the look in the kids’ eyes when they see it for the first time,” Gilliland said.

Once diagnosed with cancer, he went in for treatment following his diagnosis and saw children in wheelchairs battling the disease, “which just wasn’t fair.”

So he did something about it.

Now living in North Carolina, Gilliland does work for Hearts 4 Haiti, a Christian orghanization based in Butler that provides aid to impoverished people in Haiti. He’s traveled to the country himself to assist in that regard.

Gilliland believes the world “has more good than bad and that we can make the good bigger while shrinking the bad.”

He emphasizes that everyone has the ability to give, whether through volunteerism or donation.

His words speak volumes:

“You can’t add value to a person until you value them.”

“There are no conditions on friendship. You’re accepted for who you are.”

“Parents, teachers, coaches, friends ... They shape your life and develop you as a person.”

His mother said to “give more than you can and take less than you need.”

Gilliland has never forgotten Butler. He returns here often, just to visit with family and friends to share old stories. He joins his old high school buddies for a Pittsburgh Steelers road trip every year. He will be in town Sept. 8 to emcee a Gala at The Atrium in Prospect to raise money for the Hearts 4 Haiti mission.

Steve Gilliland will forever be a Butler guy. The foundation of his life was built here.

From class clown to international motivational speaker who has influenced thousands for the betterment of mankind.

That’s no joke.

That’s inspiring.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle