BUTLER TWP— Butler Basketball Boosters, support for youngsters, George Frost.

They're all one and the same.

Frost, 71, was the first president of the Butler Basketball Boosters when the organization was formed in 1981.

He became president a second time when Joe Lewandowski became the Golden Tornado boys basketball coach six years ago.

Even after suffering a stroke in September 2006 that has since confined him to a wheelchair, Frost continues to help out with Butler's gameday program, making advertising contacts and doing billing.

"I've always had a hand in that book,"Frost said. "I still receive the ads that I had previously.

"I can still speak and write. This gives me something to do. I'm not that incapable. ... I can still do my part. I can still help out."

Because he's been helping out for 27 years now, Frost is being recognized by the Butler Basketball Boosters during halftime of the Tornado's home game with Pine-Richland Jan. 25.

"It's an honor well deserved,"said Butler County commissioner and longtime sports broadcaster Jim Lokhaiser. "There's not a finer family in Butler than George and Ella Frost."

Besides his work with the basketball boosters, Frost was involved with Butler's football boosters for years and has done the program work for the Butler Area Sports Hall of Fame. He's supported the Butler Catholic basketball program for years as well.

The Butler Basketball Boosters got started when Terry Thompson took over as head coach for the Tornado.

"Terry came over from Knoch and told us about a boosters club they had over there,"Frost recalled. "He wanted to get a similar club started here and I was on board with that."

Frost, who had two sons play basketball for Butler, worked with the basketball boosters through the coaching reigns of Thompson, Dave Barnes, Mark Jula, George Abraham and now Lewandowski.

"Most of the time, parents need somebody in the boosters organization to continue being active,"said Butler Basketball Boosters treasurer Dennis Tyra. "It's essential to the transition of the program from year to year, as parents leave and new parents come in.

"George has been very dependable that way. He supports programs and he supports kids."

John Prokopchak has been active in the boosters for 15 years and has seen Frost wear many different hats for the organization.

"He used to run a golf tournament for a fundraiser,"Prokopchak said. "He did the cooking for the Quarterback Club.

"George has a record of every contributor for that game program. He's one of those guys who just does whatever needs done."

Unable to attend many meetings or basketball games this year, Frost remains dedicated to the program, listening to the games on radio and watching home games on TV.

He will be in attendance at the Jan. 25 game to be honored in person.

"I miss being in the gym, meeting and talking to everybody,"he said. "It'll be fun going back. I'm just a big fan, I guess."

John Houston is president of the Butler Basketball Boosters this year. Jack Baccanti handled the duties when Frost became ill.

"Guys like George Frost are invaluable today,"Baccanti said. "It's so difficult to get volunteers anymore. A lot of the younger people don't want to get involved.

"There is continuity in our organization because of George, and continuity is important."