BUTLER TWP — The Butler Football Hometown Hero of the Year program has decided to cancel its plans to honor a nominee this season.

The Hometown Hero organization debuted in 2004 and has recognized 57 individuals for significant contribution to the Butler football program since then. It also brought back the 1963 Golden Tornado football team, for a 50-year reunion in 2013.

“There's too much uncertainty with high school football this season,” Hometown Hero committee member Kevin Vogel said. “If there is a season, we're not sure we'd be permitted to have a pre-game gathering of any sort.

“We don't know if people will be permitted to come watch the games at this point. Our committee members agreed the best thing to do is to turn our attention toward 2021.”

The Hometown Hero program honored former Butler place-kicker and longtime volunteer kicking coach Jason Cherry last year.

“Coaches, players, support personnel, longtime contributors to the Midget program ... We've enjoyed recognizing all of those people,” Vogel said.

The organization's annual fund-raising program will not take place this year as well. It will return in 2021.

Hometown Hero committee member and former Butler assistant football coach Ralph McElhaney was honored by the program in 2018.

“Butler football is filled with so much tradition and history,” McElhaney said. “We enjoy bringing people back, giving them special recognition and a thank you for what they've done.

“This (COVID-19 pandemic) is affecting everybody in every aspect. No one is 100 percent sure about the football schedule. We've all decided the best thing to do is put our (Hometown Hero) program on the shelf for a year.”

Nominations are being accepted for future recognition as a Butler Football Hometown Hero of the Year. Call Kevin Vogel at 724-822-5291 or send information on a suggested nominee to him at 140 Garden Grove Drive, Butler, Pa., 16002.