October 2015

Bear Tracks
The Suda East Butler High School Alumni Newsletter
Page 1
September/October 2015
Class of ’65 Join Golden Bears Ranks
Event attracts 210 Alumni, Faculty and Friends
Inside this issue:
Page 2
Milan Perpich Tribute
Page 3
Golden Bear Pictures
Page 4
Memberships Taking Off
Wine and Music Fest
Page 5
Perpich cont.
Tax Help!
Alumni War Memorial Update
Page 6
Alumni News
Obituaries
On Friday, September 25 we hosted our fourth Golden Bear Induction/Dinner. This year we
inducted the Class of 1965. This has quickly become our signature event and gains in popularity each year. For the past two years, the class being inducted has made it a reunion weekend
by planning a Saturday afternoon luncheon. This year the Classes of ‘64 and ‘65 held their
Saturday luncheons at the same venue (different rooms). Both events were well attended.
The Class of ‘65 did its part to make this a successful event. Susan Keys Grant and Gil Rice
headed up committees to help with both events. “We want the class being inducted to enjoy
themselves, but we do need their help. The Class of ‘65 did just that. We received at least 50
new memberships and made over $4,000 as
a result. We also received several nice comments from the attendees,” explained
SEBAA President Fred Wright, ’58.
My wife Cindy and I really, really enjoyed both
events. I expected I would but the two days exceeded my expectations. It was great! … Harry
Jones ’65
I am so glad I came. Seeing classmates after 50
years is a rude awakening! It was fun, exciting and
well done. Reliving some of the fond memories was
wonderful…Irma Turley Alvis ‘65
SEBAA did a great job with all the arrangements. It
really came off well. It was a wonderful weekend...
Joe Grant ‘65
Judy Cook Herbert, Darlene Blair Kelley, Rosalie Groskurd
Randles Bandy, Bonnie Corum Dearing, Doreen West
Cromis, Susan Keys Grant
The event was nicely done and I know it took a lot of work. I want the Alumni Association to know it was
appreciated. Thanks for all the hard work that you did for the Golden Bear event and the Class of 1965
Reunion… Ron Dearing, ’65 class president
Joyce and I want to thank everyone for such hard work into making the Class of ‘65 reunion a resounding
success. We were a little apprehensive about renewing acquaintances after 50 years, but it could have not
been more rewarding. The band did a superb job and the food service was equally efficient and polite... Don
Akridge ’65 and Joyce Snawder Akridge ‘65
I had a great time and really appreciate all the hard work that went in to making this a great even. I had
lots of fun catching up with old friends….Peggy Spratt Flynn ‘65
Fred Krebs has attended every Golden Bear Induction and he wants to make sure the event
continues to improve. Krebs said, “We have had some very good suggestions that we want
to implement. The faculty is very popular and we want to make sure everyone gets to spend
some time with them. This year we added some classic cars as people entered the gym. No
telling what we will add next year.” He continued, “We will be forming a committee soon to
plan next year’s event. We can use some help and I promise it will be a lot of fun.”
Editor’s Note: If you would like to help with the 2016 Golden Bear Induction planning committee, send a note to admin@butlerhighalumni.com
Page 2
Butler Community Mourns the Passing of Coach Perp
Teacher, Coach and Gentleman
On September 1, Butler High School lost a true legend, Milan Perpich. It is hard to find another who left such a
large footprint on the school. Most remember him as the school’s first varsity football coach (12 years) and first
baseball coach (28 years), but there is so much more. Coach Perpich was also an assistant basketball coach and
he built the football bleachers (along with the help of his shop students) which stood over 50 years. Perp was
also the official timer for football and basketball until the late ‘90s. Many remember him from summers at Shively Park. He ran the summer program, which, at that time, was one of the largest programs in the Louisville area.
Coach Perp was also a great teacher, a craftsman and a true gentleman. We could go on and on but we think
it’s more fitting to hear it from some of his players/students.
Coach always said, "You have to earn respect." It didn't take him long to earn mine
and over the past 60 years, that respect has continued to grow. Coach "Perp"
touched a large number of young men in a positive way and I was fortunate to be
one of the many…. Ralph Buckley, ’58 (former head football coach, Western High
School)
Coach was so competitive. I’m sure that is why I have been very competitive my
whole life…..Bobby Clarkson, ’59 (member of Butler’s first football team and local
businessman)
Coach was tough but he took care of us. We were getting on the bus to play Fern
Creek and it was the last game. It was freezing. Coach Perp left the bus and returned with several boxes of baseball socks for our legs. I know that doesn’t sound
like much but it was a big deal and we all appreciated it. My senior year I received
a letter from Georgetown College telling me I had been recommended to them as a
prospective football player. Only one person would have done that for me and it had
to be Coach. He may have sent them a list of every senior but I felt very honored…..Joe Crabtree, ’58, Butler’s first quarterback.
We were playing Trinity for the first time. Coach was at home sick and couldn’t
make the game. On our way home from the game, the entire football team stopped
by his house with the game results….Butler tied Trinity! This was great medicine for
Coach, he was a very happy man…..Guthrie Garrett, ‘58
After many years of working with Coach Perpich, the team affectionately gave him a
nickname - Head Low Milo. He was always telling the players to keep their head low when running with the ball. Playing
quarterback for four years under Coach was one of the greatest times of my life….Jack Robinson, ‘64
“Tough as nails." Coach Perpich fit that description perfectly. He was very tough on his players, and I later came to realize that it was all in an effort to instill that same quality in each of us. I lacked self-confidence when I first started playing.
Coach Perpich believed in me and gave me the
confidence I needed. That has benefited me my
I’m like many others and I owe a lot to Coach Perpich.
entire life. Tough but caring - through coaching he
He did so much for Butler High School and the Shively
helped many prepare for life and we didn’t even
community…..Tinker Chapman ‘72
realize it at the time….Dan Maxberry, ’67 (retired
principal, Marshall County High School)
In the late ‘90s, I mailed Coach Perp two tickets to the Master's practice round. He and one of his buddies had
planned to meet my wife and I at the practice green that morning, but they got caught in terrible traffic. He finally made
it around noon. He told me later that he had a wonderful time walking the grounds and said to me, “If I died tomorrow, I
have already seen what heaven looks like.” I was pleased that I could do something for him since he gave so much to his
players and students….Bo Hawkins, ‘68
continued on page 5
SEBAA Lifetime Memberships Available for $25
Page 3
2015 Golden Bear Induction and Class of ‘65 Reunion
Van Jones and Janice Stewart Preston
Betty Wohl Schmidt
Pat Sipes Brietholle
Harold Leach and Ted Little
Above: Members of the Class of 1965 enjoy their reunion luncheon on Saturday at South Park Country Club
Gil and Donna Rice
Jeanne White Andrada, Rosalie Randles Bandy, Wanda Flener, Norma Shelton-Bockting, Joe Page,
Bill Ditto and Larry Blondell
Trudy Elliott Jackson, Elvis and Billie Bennet Welker
Click for more Golden Bear
and reunion photos.
Pictures added daily
Don Akridge, Benita Aprile, Delores Buntain Dickman, Donna Goemmer Lacefield and Joyce Snawder Akridge.
September/October 2015
Page 4
Memberships Taking Off
Recent Memorial Memberships
154 Lifetime Members Added Since June
SEBAA membership is one area that has taken off in the
past few months. We have grown by over 10 percent since
our last newsletter. We asked our membership chairperson, Brenda Darnell Cease, ’67, what she thought of the
recent activity. Here is Brenda’s reply:
I’m very pleased. The increase in new members is driven by
many factors. The Golden Bear Induction brings in a lot of
new members each year. You don’t have to be a SEBAA
member to be a Golden Bear but most attendees join while
they are there if they are not a member already. This year
the class of 1965 was very supportive.
Another reason for the increase is we are getting a lot of
interest in memorials. The classes of ‘58, ‘67 and ‘70 have
taken the lead in purchasing memorial memberships for their
classmates that have passed away. This quarter alone, people have purchased 59 memorial memberships. We think
other classes will do the same once the word gets out.
I think the biggest reason is, this is a really good deal. We set
this up as a one-time donation and we’ve proven we will follow that model. We may have a donation campaign from
time to time but no one will ever be required to donate again
to maintain their membership. We now have almost 1,200
members and I’m sure more people would join if they just
knew what we are doing. We’re getting the word out day by
day. If you’re not a member we need you to join. If you are a
member, help us spread the word and ask your friends and
family to join.
Click to see if you are a SEBAA member
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Robert D Bodner
1967 Susan Morrow
Barbara Bruce Scott
1967 Phillip Ormes
Evelyn Cherry Nalley
1967 Howard Patterson
Donald Gregory
1967 Don Skip Pennington
Louis Looney
1967 Marvin Roggenkamp
Lou Mays
1967 Fred Rudisill
John Perry
1967 Larry Schamore
James (Steve) W Stephenson 1967 Donald Smith
Tom F Worthington
1967 John Stewart
Dorothy W. Sexton Casteel
1967 Frank Sumner
Joyce Wood Seidl
1967 Bobby Tucker
Ronald L. Duncan
1967 Rita Weilage
Maggie Allen
1967 Marilyn Kay Wilcox
Jerry Antle
1967 Craig Winders
Leslie Arbuckle
1967 Charlene Wysbrod Miller
Eddie Ashby
1967 Joan Zebiak Manzo
Randy Beavers
1968 Dennis E. Davidson
Richard Benock
1968 Brenda Jeffries
Vicki Benton Muskopf
1970 Noble Briley
Mark Billig
1970 Patsy A. Bryant Markham
James L. (Jim) Brown
1970 Dean Clark
Cheryl Christopher Barnes
1970 Steven M. Cook
Jimbo Clark
1970 Barry D. Cowan
Mike Clark
1970 Donald W. Deetch
John Clausen
1970 Sherry L. Givens Ashlock
Jan Colvin Ewald
1970 Judy Higgs Jewell
Karen Corley Grigsby
1970 Gary Lawhorn
Vivian Cummings Turbeville
1970 Leonard H. Mantooth
Charles Robert Cureton
1970 Jane Mayfield Ballinger
Ginger F. Douville Melton
1970 Joan Mayfield Clark
Randy Duvall
1970 Marilyn R. McCoy Purdom
Teri Foster Sarver
1970 Donald G. Milam
Carl Fruechtenicht
1970 Barbara Nuss Felhoelter
Andrew Fulton
1974 Connie M. Sexton Rider
Bill Gabbert
Rosina M. Hendricks Owen
Faculty/Friend Milan Perpich
Terry Hurd
Robert Joe Insley
Robert G. Kerfoot
Jimmy Marcum
Download a SEBAA Application
Tom Middleton
William Moore
Wine and Music Fest
2015
Click for More Photos
Paul Watkins ‘62 and Dr. Tom Wilkerson ‘60
On Sunday, October 11 SEBAA held its first Wine and Music
Fest at Brooks Hill Winery. Approximately 130 people attended. SEBAA is very happy with the participation. “This
event will be easy to grow,” stated Larry Birkenfeld ’67. “The
weather was perfect and everyone enjoyed themselves. I’m
sure the word will spread,” predicted Larry.
Ron Milam ‘70 and Fern Milam enjoy the Winery dog
SEBBA thanks Mike Hatzell ’61, owner of Brooks Hill Winery
for hosting this event. Dr. Tom Wilkerson ’60 headed the
September/October 2015
Milan Perpich continued
Page 5
click on Milan Perpich Field
Coach Perpich gave more than he received for the work and time he put into the Butler football and baseball programs. I
remember Coach using his ‘57 Green Chevy to drag the baseball field in preparation for games, at his own expense. He
also used the same car to prepare the baseball fields at Shively Park during the summers in the 1950's and 60's. He conducted what he called clinics three or four days a week during the summer. He made it fun to be at Shively Park. I have a
great deal of respect for my Coach and friend….Tinker Chapman, ’72 member of the Butler Baseball Hall of Fame.
My fondest memories were from Shively Park. I went to his baseball clinics just about every day. No matter how many kids
showed up, we all got to take batting and fielding practice. He would make up little games and the winner would get a
snow cone from the concession stand. We would do everything possible to get that snow cone. It was his way of teaching us
to never give up. He took interest in all of us, to make us better players and better people. He will be missed by
many…..Donnie ‘Rock’ Lane, ’72
Editor’s Note: Space limitations only allowed us to publish excerpts from the notes received.
Tax Help!
Form 990 Required
We have good news and not-so-good news. The good news is that SEBAA is generating money for the school.
The other side of that coin is for the first time, we will be required to file the full
federal income tax form 990. Up until now, we have been able to file the EZ version
of the form and we have been able to handle this ourselves. But no longer. Now we
need a CPA or a certified tax preparer.
If you can help us or point us in the right direction, we’d love to hear from you. Our
financial records are in great shape, but this is a task we need to have completed by a
professional. Please email us at admin@butlerhighalumni.com if you can help us.
Alumni War Memorial Update
After we dedicated the Alumni Memorial we learned that we omitted one of our classmates. Thomas William Warren, ’68, was killed in combat while serving in Vietnam. He
died in a helicopter crash on December 2, 1971. Thomas’ name has been placed on our
monument.
We published a program the day of the dedication, and in one case we gave incorrect
information. David Huckelberry, ’63, was in the US Navy and was among 99 crewmen of
the nuclear submarine Scorpion lost in the Atlantic. He was a PO 2 and died on May 22,
1968.
Thomas Warren ‘;68
We apologize to the families and friends of these great men.
Butler’s Veterans' Day Program Best In Area
On Wednesday November 11, Butler High School will host its 15th Annual Veterans’
Day program to honor the family members of Butler Alumni, current students, faculty
and staff who have served in the military.
After the program a reception, including lunch, for all veterans will be held in the small
Visit our website at www.butlerhighalumni.com
Suda E. Butler Alumni Association
SEBAA
PO Box 16685
Louisville, KY 40256-0685
Suda E. Butler High School
Alumni Association
Website: www.butlerhighalumni.com
Email Address:
admin@butlerhighalumni.com
Board of Directors
Fred Wright ’58, President
Eddie Cannon ’72, Vice President
Kathy Embry Denzik ’74, Secretary
Brittany Campbell Braun ’00, Treasurer
Earl Dever ’59
Larry Birkenfeld ’67
Brenda Darnell Cease ’67
Diane Potts ’71
Vicki Sinegra Ziegler ‘72
David Moody ‘75
Advisory Board
Dr. Alan Akridge ‘59
Dr. Tom Wilkerson ‘60
Fred Krebs ’61
Charles Rogalinski ‘62
Joan Sternberg Butler ’64
John King ‘64
Dr. Aaron Lucas ‘67
Scott Kolter ‘73
Marc Jennings ’74
Bonnie Biblehauser Davis ‘94
Kylie Kiesel ‘08
Principal
William M. Allen
Bear Tracks Staff
Eddie Cannon ‘72
Marc Jennings ‘74
Butler Notes / Alumni News
Former Butler Girls’
Basketball Players
Please contact Coach Larry Just
with your contact information for
some upcoming events
Alumni Obituaries
We extend our sympathy to the family and friends of
these Butler Bears. If we have missed the passing of
one of our friends, please let us know and we will
publish it in our next newsletter.
James ‘Steve’ Stephenson
1958
David Neel
1959
Eddie Ben Ray
1962
Eddie ‘Buddy’ Bryant
1963
Laura Carter Yadon
1964
Joyce Wood Seidl
1964
Linda Ice Payne
1965
Phil Travis
1968
Butler Alumni Annual Meeting
Patsy Bryant Markham
1970
Monday, December 7 at 6 PM
Board of Directors Elections
Michael Burden
1970
Jane Mayfield Ballinger
1970
Garnett Gaines
1971
Robert Hampton
1971
David W. Meredith
1977
Veterans' Day Program
November 11 at 11 a.m.
All Veterans’ are welcome. Alumni
that are Veterans will be recognized.
Butler Festival of Trees
Saturday, December 5
Photo Credits
Floyd Phelps ‘58 and Mike Berry ‘64
Visit our website at www.butlerhighalumni.com