BUTLER TWP — An active citizen of Butler for a number of years, Dennis Baglier began his legacy in Youngstown, Ohio.

He was recognized for that beginning Sunday when he was inducted into the Liberty High School All-Sports Hall of Fame.

Owner of Baglier Buick- GMC-Mazda in Butler for 32 years, Baglier is a 1970 Liberty graduate. He played football and competed in track and field there.

"Football was my primary sport," Baglier said. "Our assistant head coach was also the track coach and he wanted the football players to be active in the spring. I did the shot put and discus."

There were 225 students in Baglier's graduating class. The relatively small high school didn't start a football program until he was in eighth grade.

During Baglier's football career, Liberty didn't even have its own stadium.

"They built one, but it wasn't ready until the year after I graduated," he said. "We played our home games at Girard, the next town over, and still drew good crowds."

Baglier started at guard his junior year and was an all-conference honorable mention. He rose to prominence his senior season, serving as defensive captain for the Leopards and earning first-team all-conference honors as an offensive tackle.

Baglier attended Notre Dame and earned a degree in business management. He also walked on to the Fighting Irish freshman football team and made the squad.

"Ara Parseghian was the head coach of the Irish back then and they still had a separate freshman team in those days," Baglier said. "I was a second-string guard.

"I quit playing after one year because I felt I was too small to make the main team. I never even tried out."

Baglier was 5-feet-11, 222 pounds during the 1970 season at Notre Dame. His teammates on that freshman team included eventual NFL Hall of Famer and longtime Oakland Raiders tight end Dave Casper and Leon Hart Jr., son of the former Notre Dame great.

Baglier's father owned a Ford dealership and he envisioned following the same path. After serving as a partner of a dealership in the Youngstown area, he moved to Butler to run his own dealership.

"I was ready to venture on my own in the business and Butler had a dealership for sale," Baglier said. "That's why I came here."

Always interested in cars, Baglier frequented the Mid-Ohio and Watkins Glen race tracks with buddies and soon entered the race game himself.

"I watched it long enough. Now I had to go do it," he said.

He attended driving school and qualified to compete in 1989. Baglier has since competed in more than 100 amateur, club and professional races at more than 20 venues across North America, primarily through the Sports Car Club of America.

Baglier didn't compete this year, choosing to focus his interests on teaching classes in performance driving, safety and car control at the BeaveRun Motorsports Complex near Beaver Falls.

"I enjoy anything that has to do with cars," he said. "I'm still contemplating my next move in racing. I still love endurance racing."

He loved being recognized by his high school as well.

"I played during my school's formative years of football and it's nice to be remembered," he said. "After all those years, that was a special night. I recognized a few old faces that evening."

Robert Morris University assistant coach John Banaszak, a two-time Super Bowl champion defensive lineman with the Steelers, was the guest speaker at the induction dinner.

Baglier and his wife Ann were married in 1977. His son, John, was murdered in 1996.

Baglier is a member of the Rotary Club in Butler, serves on the board of directors of the United Way of Butler County and is an ambassador and former board member of Big Brothers/Big Sisters.