A true bench-mark
Being a coach and volunteer for the Butler Area Midget Football League for 18 years may have been enough for Jim Bier.
His family and friends want his presence felt at Memorial Park for a lot longer.
Before Butler's youth football games with Pine-Richland recently, two park benches — located beside the concession stand — were installed in Bier's memory.
Bier died last April at 67. He was directly involved with the Meridian program in the BAMFL, though he also helped with numerous projects within the league.
“Jim Bier was a hard worker,” former league president Hank Leyland said. “When something needed done, when we needed to call somebody ... He was that guy.”
Debbie Bier, Jim's wife of 43 years, said the family decided to accept donations toward the bench project in lieu of flowers at the funeral.
“This is more fitting,” Mrs. Bier said. “Now his name will never be forgotten here.”
A plaque with the inscription “In Memory of Jim Bier, BAMFL Coach and Volunteer,” can be found on both benches.
“Flowers fade away,” said Tierrah Byers, one of Bier's three daughters. “These benches will last forever. He would want his name connected to this league and we were able to do that for him.”
A 1968 Butler graduate, Bier began coaching for Meridian when his son, Brady, began playing football there in the late 1990's. He continued coaching long after his son was through playing.
“Our daughters were best friends at Butler Catholic,” said Rich Pribis, who was in charge of the bench dedication ceremon y. “My son played football in this league and when I saw Brady coming up, I told Jim he had to get involved, that he should help out.
“Most coaches get out of youth football once their sons are done. Jim stayed with it. And he kept up with everybody through the years. He always wanted to know how the kids were doing years after they were done playing and out of school.”
Brady Bier was not at all surprised his father continued to coach.
“It was a blessing, playing for my dad,” he said. “I'm so grateful for it. Those years were awesome.
“My father was all about teaching kids the core principles amd fundamentals of the game. His life was football.”
Former BAMFL coach Ralph McElhaney recalled when the new pressbox was built at Memorial Park.
McElhaney was looking for volunteers to help with the construction and “Jim was the guy who showed up. He didn't leave until the thing was finished. We were there for hours.
“It's hard to find people like that anymore.”
Former BAMFL coach and presisdent Bob Greaves said Bier “loved and lived football.”
With the excess money from the bench project, the Bier family plans to establish a memorial scholarship at Butler High School in Bier's name.
