Head of the class
BUTLER TWP — At Butler County Community College, Chuck Dunaway wore many hats.
Wednesday night was the topper.
Dunaway, who served as BC3 athletic director for 32 years, coached five sports and still helps coach the golf team, became the charter inductee into the Charles W. Dunaway Pioneer Hall of Fame at the BC3 Field House.
“He was my physical education teacher, health instructor, intramural sports director, coach, athletic director ... and general landscaper,” said Mike Franko, who ran on the Pioneers' first cross country team.
“He said he knew nothing about cross country, but I remember telling him that if he started a team, I would teach him how to coach it. The next day, Chuck had flyers up all over campus. Two days later, we had seven guys and a team.”
Longtime Pioneer basketball coach and current golf coach Bill Miller, who met Dunaway as an athlete himself at BC3 in 1976, said “Chuck was never on time. He always showed up early and stayed late. He did the job until it was done right.
“There's been many milestones in the history of Butler County Community College athletics — intramural program, intercollegiate, the Skyline Conference, WPCC, NJCAA, conference, state and region championships, All-Americans ... The common denominator for all of that is Chuck Dunaway.”
Former BC3 baseball and basketball player John Stuper, head baseball coach at Yale the past 23 years after pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals, was on hand to honor Dunaway as well.
Tom Beckett, a former Pioneer basketball coach, now serves as athletic director at Yale.Stuper read a letter from Beckett that stated: “Chuck Dunaway represents all that is good about the world of sports.”Stuper has been a baseball coach for 30 years, that career starting at BC3.“I came here as a clueless 18-year-old out of high school,” Stuper said. “Then I met two people, Chuck Dunaway and Tom Beckett, who changed my life.“Chuck started my coaching career. That never would have happened without him. He taught me that anything is possible. I went from a small-town guy with a 3-4 record in high school to pitching in the major leagues.”Longtime BC3 basketball coach Dick Hartung and former softball and volleyball coach Kathy Lisman Wood presented Dunaway with his Hall of Fame plaque as the college's new Hall of Fame display was unveiled along the back wall of the field house.“Chuck is a role model and we all appreciate it,” Hartung said.Former BC3 All-American basketball player Joe Lewandowski, tennis and basketball player Jeff Loughry, Slippery Rock University women's basketball coach Bobby McGraw and other former Pioneer athletes were on hand to recognize Dunaway.“He was a great athlete himself,” Lewandowski said. “There are so few people like him — a sincere coach who cares — and he always took care of the little things to make you better.”Loughry recalled Dunaway taking the time to come to the school on Sundays to play tennis with him.“We probably did that four or five times a season, for a couple of hours,” Loughry said. “Chuck did that on his own time, just to make me a better player.“You ask somebody what love is ... It's sacrificing yourself for the benefit of somebody else. This guy did that every day for years.”Dr. Nicholas Neupauer, president of the college, said the purpose of the Hall of Fame is to “honor past performances and future generations of players and coaches to come through this school.”Dunaway was overwhelmed by Wednesday's ceremony, saying that “I had something prepared to say, but it doesn't seem to fit. All of you I've coached were an inspiration to me every day.“When I interviewed here, they said the job was mine if I wanted it ... I guess I just tried to do what needed to be done.”Dunaway's wife, three children and nine grandchildren were on hand.BC3 athletic director Rob Snyder presided over Wednesday's ceremony.“It's funny how athletics have changed over the years here, but also remain the same,” Snyder said. “I was interviewed by Chuck when I first came here.“Chuck started this athletic program and 47 years later, he's still here contributing to it. This Hall of Fame honors the past and signifies change for the future.”
