Buffalo Township residents wave goodbye to Roenigk after 46-year run
BUFFALO TWP — A large crowd of township residents waved goodbye to supervisor Albert “Ouch” Roenigk, who presided over his final supervisors meeting on Wednesday night, Dec. 10 after a 46-year run.
“I came here tonight just to thank Ouch,” said Bob Holbein, owner of the construction company Holbein, Inc. “He’s the most pure-minded public servant I’ve ever known, and we were lucky to have him all these years.”
“We can’t thank him enough regarding his friendship, his help and support,” said fellow supervisor and board chairman Ron Zampogna. “He’s been a pillar in the community, and he would do anything for anybody. So thank you, Ouch.”
Roenigk, 83, opted to step down from his post rather than run for another term. His seat will be taken by Bob Buterbaugh, who won the general election for the vacated supervisor seat last month.
Many of those who packed the Municipal Authority building on Wednesday night were members of Roenigk’s extended family, which Roenigk made note of during public comment.
“If it wouldn’t be for my family ...” Roenigk paused, before adding the punchline, “... nobody would be here tonight.”
During the meeting, Roenigk reminisced about how the township has significantly grown in the 46 years he has sat on the board.
“When I first got on here, the first stoplight on (Route) 356 was at Winfield Road,” Roenigk said. “People complain about all the stoplights, but you would never get on the road if it wasn’t for the stoplights now.”
He also paid tribute to his friend, former township roadmaster John Gaydos, who died Dec. 5. He expressed a desire to purchase a tribute plaque or bench for the Butler Freeport Community Trail in his honor.
“He was here, I think one year longer than me,” Roenigk said. “I don't think he ever missed a day for, what, 48 years.”
Roenigk wore many hats during his 46 years. In addition to his role as township supervisor, he has also overseen the township’s road crew for a number of years, and has served as a promoter and manager at Lernerville Speedway.
His friend, Chris Ziegler, president of the Butler Freeport Community Trail, said Roenigk’s nickname is almost as old as he is.
“It comes from his sister, who was 2 years old at the time,” Ziegler said. “His sister could not say his name, so she just said ‘Ouch.’ So his family called him ‘Ouch’ and his friends called him ‘Ouch.’”
A major part of Roenigk’s legacy was his part in advocating for the creation of the trail, much of which runs through Buffalo Township. The first leg of the trail, from Sarver to Cabot, opened in 1992, with none other than Pittsburgh Steelers legend Franco Harris present at the opening ceremony.
The opening of the trail was not without controversy, as it was located along property which the township purchased from the now-defunct Conrail rail company. This led to lawsuits from property owners who believed the property should have legally reverted to them after Conrail let go of it, with Winfield and Jefferson townships also entangled.
According to Butler County court records, Roenigk and four other individuals were named in the lawsuit. The case ended in a summary judgment in the townships’ behalf in 2003.
“It took over 25 years to get the trail done,” Ziegler said during Wednesday night’s meeting. “There was a lot of opposition there. He was sued for a million dollars and nothing stopped him. When he has a vision, he's focused, and nothing's going to get in his way.”
Holbein described how Roenigk positively impacted his life when he was having trouble establishing his new construction business in the township.
“When I was a young man and I moved into Parker Road, the residents made a petition to keep me out. They didn’t want a business there,” Holbein said. “I didn’t know any better. I didn’t know I was supposed to have a conditional-use permit.”
“When we went to that meeting, I thought, ‘I don't have a chance here.’ And Ouch said to the people, ‘He could pile cow manure 100 feet in the air, or he could pile topsoil or limestone 100 feet in the air. Which would you rather have?’ And they voted in my favor to let me put a business in.”
