BUTLER TWP — Bob Cowoski grew up a sports guy. His family followed suit.

Cowoski died in February of last year at age 79. He watched all five of his kids participate in athletics, coached youth sports for 15 years and spent a combined 61 years as a PIAA official in basketball, softball and baseball.

He received a plaque from the PIAA commemorating the latter.

Cowoski will be inducted into the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame during the organization's annual banquet April 13 at the Butler Days Inn. His induction commemorates a long career in athletics in many ways.

“He was probably Butler's biggest sports fan,” his daughter, Allyson Hillwig, said.

Cowoski got into sports as a child growing up in a small town outside of Indiana, Pa.

“He had 15 brothers and sisters growing up,” said his wife, Joan Cowoski. “There was nothing else for them to do, so they all played sports together. They played stickball, baseball, whatever.

“Bob always played intramural sports. That's where he had his fun as a player.”

Cowoski was a member of the Pullman Standard basketball team from 1960-75 and played for the Rikales slow-pitch softball team.

His passion for sports only intensified as his life went on.

His sons — Chris, Jeff and Todd — all played basketball at Butler. Allyson was a 1,000-point scorer for the Golden Tornado girls team and Cowoski's other daughter, Robyn, was a cheerleader.

“He was there all the time for all five of us,” Hillwig said. “He never missed our games. He had a lot of influence on my basketball career because he pushed me to be the best player I could be.

“Some of those trips home from road games weren't pretty. But it was criticism that pushed me to be better.”

Hillwig said Cowoski went on “to watch all 10 of his grandchildren play sports as well.”

When Cowoski wasn't watching, he was helping.

He coached Meridian baseball and football, Penn Street football, Butler Catholic boys and girls basketball, Butler Junior High basketball and Knoch basketball.

He umpired Little League and Pony League baseball, high school softball and officiated basketball for decades.

“When he wasn't going to a game, he was refereeing a game,” Mrs. Cowoski said. “We went out to Hershey for the basketball state championships 25 or 30 years in a row. We never missed it.”

Cowoski was a member of the Butler Boys and Girls Boosters for 37 years. He donated to Butler Catholic athletics as well and was a 30-year member of the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors.

Now he will forever be a part of the Hall of Fame.

“Very deserving,” Hillwig said. “He was a difference maker. I loved playing basketball with him watching from the stands. I knew he was proud.

“And my brothers and I always knew we'd eventually hear some type of comments come from the corner of the gym, where he'd be sitting.”

Cowoski's wife admitted her husband used to be quite vocal toward the referees when he sat in the stands.

That is, until he began working basketball games himself.

“Once he started hearing it, experiencing it from the other side ... He pretty much stopped yelling,” she said, laughing.

Tickets for the banquet are $40 in advance and are available at Moses Jewelers at the Clearview Mall, Butler Radio Network on Pillow St., Parker Appliance in Chicora, Snack n Pack in Butler and Saxonburg Drug. Tickets will be $45 at the door.