Saxonburg pays tribute to outgoing mayor
SAXONBURG — A host of friends, council members and businesspeople gathered outside the South Butler Community Library on Thursday, Sept. 18, to wish retiring Mayor William Gillespie a happy retirement and to thank him for three decades of public service to the borough.
“It’s very humbling and it’s a blessing just to serve this town,” Gillespie said. “The mayor doesn’t really deserve anything. It’s the people around him. They’re the best. They’ll do anything to promote this town.”
“I’ve been working with Bill for the last 10 years, and he’s a great leader,” said Fred Caesar, formerly the curator for the Saxonburg Museum, who filmed the ceremony. “He is very thoughtful. He cares about the community. He cares about the people and that’s what drives him.”
Gillespie’s career of public service to Saxonburg began in the mid-90s, when he began serving as a member of borough council. In March 2016, he was appointed mayor to finish out the term of Pamela Bauman after her death. Gillespie was subsequently reelected in 2017 and 2021.
Karen Kennedy, a member of the Friends of the Saxonburg Police nonprofit, related stories of how Gillespie would do just about anything for the borough. This included picking up trash after the Mingle on Main and delivering meals to families during and after the onset of COVID-19.
“Bill was always behind the scenes doing something, because his motto was, ‘There's so much to be done,’” Kennedy said. “And if nobody else wanted to do it, Bill did it.”
In February, Gillespie announced that he would not seek reelection for an additional term as mayor and that he would endorse current borough Councilman Dave Johnston as his successor. Johnston is running unopposed and — barring a write-in campaign — is most likely to succeed Gillespie starting in 2026.
In the 2017 mayoral election, Johnston ran against Gillespie and lost but came out of the election with deep respect for Gillespie.
“It was the best loss I’ve had,” Johnston said. “I told Bill after I started working with him, ‘Bill, I will never, ever run against you again.’ In fact, whenever he came to me in February and asked me to run for mayor, I said, ‘Please consider one more term.’ He said, ‘No, 30 years is enough.’”
Those who spoke of Gillespie spoke of a man who did not have a political bone in his body while serving as either mayor or borough councilman and always looked out for the needs of the borough before anything else.
“I’m in the opposite political party from Bill, but I was his campaign manager (in 2017),” Kennedy said. “I discovered he was nonpolitical. He didn’t have a hidden agenda for the office and he wasn’t seeking fame or fortune.”
State Rep. Marci Mustello, R-11th, took time to read an official statement honoring Gillespie for his service.
“We all love it down here and it’s really because of you and what you built down here,” Mustello said.
Gillespie received several parting gifts for his service, including a gift certificate for golfing at the Slippery Rock Golf Club and a watercolor painting of the Saxonburg Memorial Presbyterian Church.
According to Kennedy, it was a photo of that same church that helped convince him to move to Saxonburg in 1991 along with his wife, Sue, and two sons, Robert and Thomas.
“He said, ‘I think we ought to look at this town,’” Kennedy said. “Aren’t we glad they did?”
In his closing speech, Gillespie offered thanks to just about everyone within earshot and a few people who weren’t, thanking them for making his 30-year career special.
“It’s an honor to have worked with you and I’m looking forward to the rest of the year. After that, you’re on your own,” Gillespie joked.
Also on Thursday, the borough hosted Mingle on Main as well as a parade and festivities for Knoch High School’s homecoming.
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Steve Potoka with Hot Ash Wood Fired Pizza pulls pizza from the oven at the Saxonburg combined Mingle on Main and homecoming parade, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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BB the turkey from J&J Farms Animal Sanctuary makes an appearance at the Saxonburg combined Mingle on Main and homecoming parade, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Elyse Knapick and other members of BelieveN-U Fitness dance at the Saxonburg combined Mingle on Main and homecoming parade, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Robert Gillespie speaks about his father during a tribute event commemorating his 30 years as mayor and upcoming retirement at the Saxonburg combined Mingle on Main and homecoming parade, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Saxonburg Mayor Bill Gillespie speaks with attendees at the Saxonburg combined Mingle on Main and homecoming parade, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Dirt racer Jake Dietz shows off his car at the Saxonburg combined Mingle on Main and homecoming parade, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Knoch High School senior Lindsey Wise rides in the parade at the Saxonburg combined Mingle on Main and homecoming parade, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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People gather on Main Street during the Saxonburg combined Mingle on Main and homecoming parade, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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The Knoch wrestling team rides in the parade at the Saxonburg combined Mingle on Main and homecoming parade, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Dave Johnston discusses the time he ran against William Gillespie for the position of Saxonburg mayor at a tribute to commemorate Gillespi's 30 years as mayor during the Saxonburg combined Mingle on Main and homecoming parade, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
