Thaddeus Penar

A former Butler County Community College president has died.

Thaddeus Henry Penar died Monday at his home in West Chester. He was 89.

Penar from 1991 to 1994 was president of BC3. Before that post, he held various positions at Grove City College. He also was inducted twice into the Butler Sports Hall of Fame.

Just this past weekend, he was honored at Grove City College for his athletic achievements while a student and administrator there. He was one of four people to receive the Athletic Heritage Award.

Born in 1920 in Lyndora, he attended Butler High School where he was on the track and football teams.

Penar entered Grove City College in 1938 as a student-athlete, where he was a sprinter and played halfback for the football team.

After college graduation in 1942, he taught at Butler High School.

He joined Grove City College, working in different posts, including staff as chairman of the Department of Education in 1953 and eventually dean of the college. He was the founder and coach of the cross-country team at the college.

In 1965, he was named Pennsylvania Business Teacher of The Year by the Pennsylvania Business Education Association.

Grove City College honored Penar with a Jack Kennedy Alumni Achievement Award in 1984 for his contributions to the field of education.

He received the Florence E. MacKenzie Campus-Community Award in 1987. He was president of both the Grove City Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club, and taught a Sunday school class for many years at East Main Presbyterian Church, where he also served as an elder.

He was involved with the Grove City Industrial Development Corporation, Penn Northwest Development Corporation and First Seneca Bank Development Board.

After 38 years of service, Penar retired from Grove City College in 1990. Then, he joined BC3.

He started in January 1991 as interim president following the resignation of William N. Price. In June, he was appointed by the board as president. His inauguration was Oct. 24, 1991, and he served as president until July 1994.

He also was an Army veteran who served in Burma, India, as a cryptographer.

He earned his master's and doctoral degrees in education at the University of Pittsburgh before joining the Butler High School faculty.

Penar's wife, Margie, preceded him in death in 2007. The couple had four children.

In memory of Penar, the American flag on the BC3 Main Campus in Butler Township will fly at half staff today and Friday.

Funeral arrangements are by the Founds Funeral Home in West Chester.