BUTLER TWP — The future of the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame appears to be on shaky ground.

A sharp decline in board of directors over the past couple of years leaves the remaining board members “facing some tough decisions if we don't get some help,” BCSHOF president Dan Cunningham said.

The Hall of Fame celebrated its 52nd year with its annual induction banquet April 29. It has inducted 378 Hall of Famers during its run.

The Hall of Fame was born with the induction of major league umpire Ed Vargo in 1966.

“We just haven't had the turnover necessary to maintain our numbers,” Cunningham said of the board of directors. “We've had loyal people running this thing for a long, long time.

“But some of those people have died off and others have gotten older and felt a need to step away.”

Only nine active Hall of Fame board members — including Cunningham — remain right now. Others are Dess Schnur, Bob Paserba, John Houston, Leatha Dudek Baker, Jason Delano, Tim McCune, Ed Codi and Regis Young.

McCune is vice president of the organization. Cunningham also serves as secretary and treasurer.

“We need about 24 directors to really make this work ... That's 15 more,” Cunningham said. “The numbers we're dealing with now, it's just not sufficient to handle the workload.

“We've asked a lot of people to join the board. You can't find volunteers anymore. A lot of the people we've asked are already committed to other groups or organizations and don't have the time.”

Cunningham admitted the prospect of the county Hall of Fame discontinuing is a “distinct possibility if we can't get more help to come forward.”

The formation of area high school Halls of Fame — while the county Hall supports such ventures — has taken away prospective board members as well.

He added that the realization of the Hall of Fame closing its doors “would be a real shame because we're still getting new resume's turned in and there's plenty of deserving people we'd like to get in.”

Regardless of the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame's future, its memorabilia and photos will continue to be displayed on the upstairs corridor of the Butler County Courthouse.

Anyone interested in joining the BCSHOF board may contact Cunningham at 724-352-5043.

“This is a plea to the public,” Cunningham admitted. “We need help. If we don't get it, the board will have difficult decisions to make as to what to do moving forward.”