Wayne Paffhausen was one of 30 men to serve as head coach of the Butte High football team.

He coached the Bulldogs from 1970 through 1972, and his 1971 team came within a couple of touchdowns — and a sever blizzard in Great Falls — from playing for the state title.

Before his coaching days, Paffhausen was one of the great athletes in Butte history. He was key part of Butte High’s 1960 and 1961 state championship teams. The Bulldogs went 18-0 over those two seasons. The 1961 team completely dominated the state, outscoring its opponents 207-58 on the season.

Paffhausen earned was named first-team All-State as a senior, and he was selected honorable mention on The Sporting News’ 15th Annual High School All-American team. He was part of the West team that won the Montana East-West Shrine Game 26-6 in 1962, and Paffhausen went to the University of Washington to play football. His career as a Husky, however, ended when he suffered a broken neck.

Paffhausen also officiated high school basketball from 1964 through 1977, and he became a lifetime member of the Montana Officials Association in 1979.

Of course, Paffhausen is probably most known for his children. Marc, Scott, Todd and Josh Paffhausen were all standouts for the Bulldogs. Scott was a starter on the 1984 Butte High state championship basketball team. Josh was the starting quarterback for the 1991 state champion Bulldog football team.

Likewise, Scott is probably better known today as Jaimee’s dad. She was the 2011 Gatorade Montana Softball Player of the Year.

Wayne and Josh Paffhausen were inducted into the Butte Sports Hall of Fame together in 2013.

At 79, Wayne Paffhausen is still active in his with his construction company. He and his wife Patty are busy traveling to follow the athletic careers of their grandchildren.