Father's Day serves as a salute to the paternal heroes of our youth.

The Butler Football Hometown Hero program serves as a salute to the heroes of our community who have emerged through the Golden Tornado football program.

The program enters its fifth year this season and will honor five more individuals before the Sept. 12 home opener against Penn Hills.

When the Hometown Hero program was established in 2004, the first group of inductees included former Golden Tornado greats who went on to careers in the NFL, such as Bill, Rich and Ron Saul, Terry Hanratty, John Shipkowski and Scott Milanovich.

Dedicated coaches, such as Paul "Red"Uram and Dave Mc- Kinnis, were recognized as well.

The theme of the program has since grown toward accomplishments off the field as much as on it.

Hometown Hero concept is not a Hall of Fame designed to house the greatest football players ever to play for the Tornado, though some of them certainly will be included.

The Hometown Hero concept is designed to recognize individuals who used the Tornado football program as a springboard toward working with and helping others in the community or for being an exemplary role model.

Many such examples already have been recognized by this program.

Joe Savannah was in charge of the weight room at the Butler football annex for years. Mike Surkalo covered football for the Butler Eagle for decades.

Andy Hilliard handled the equipment for the football program for years. Rudy Corona has been a longtime trainer. Harry Leyland and George "Red"Slater are longtime youth coaches.

Mike Kelly was a Butler football great who went on to play at Notre Dame, only to return to his hometown, coach Midget League football and donate funds from his successful business toward numerous community causes.

Last year's Hometown Hero honorees, former coaches Mark Farabee, Jim Kamerer, Jack Lehew, Jim Love, Gary Milanovich, Tim Nunes, Bill Tack and Harold "Bo"Voelker, combined for 196 years of coaching Butler football.

Hometown Hero is such a broad term. Maybe a former Butler football player has gone on to become a police officer, a doctor or a dentist in the community. Perhaps he has moved into a political career to serve his hometown.

The committee is seeking nominations of former Butler football players who have made or are making their marks on the community and/or our youths in a positive way, or those who have consistently given back to the football program that benefited them.

Nominations can be given to Kevin or Joni Vogel at 724-282-2543 or John Enrietto at 724-285-0067.