The Butte High Silver B Football Organization will have a chance to honor a living local legend Sept. 20 when Mr. Lee Whitmore Smith will be recognized for having lettered for the Bulldogs 75 years ago.

Smith will be only the 20th Diamond B in the group’s 85-year history. He first lettered for Butte High during the 1949 season and played Fullback for Coach Harry “Swede” Dahlberg’s squad. Smith is being celebrated this year along with the 1999 letterwinners going in as Silver B’s and the 1974 lettermen heading in as Golden B’s.

The 85th Annual Meeting and Induction Ceremony (1940 – 2024) will take place Friday September 20, 2024, at The Butte High School Gymnasium with doors opening at 4 p.m. The meeting and dinner will start at 5:00 p.m. It is a MEMBERS-ONLY meeting and dinner…no guests or alcohol will be permitted. The group will then make its’ way to Naranche Memorial Stadium, to cheer on the 2024 version of the Butte High Bulldogs football team as they play host to the Missoula Big Sky Eagles. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

Banquet tickets are $24 per person, and annual dues are $5 per person. Members are asked to please R.S.V.P. with prepayment as soon as possible. This is critical so that we have an accurate head count to supply to our caterer. Members can fill out and return the top portion of their 2024 brochure via US Mail or they can pay online by accessing our website at buttehighsilverbs.com. All mailings can be returned to Butte High Silver B’s P.O. Box 4655 Butte, MT 59702.

Those participating in the pre-game ceremonies are encouraged to wear their Silver B, Golden B or Diamond B Cap and Pin. Scott Paffhausen is the Historian, Dean Ericson is the Past-President, Matt Pelletier is the Treasurer and Northey Tretheway is the Secretary of the organization.

85th Annual Meeting and Induction Ceremony September 20, 2024

SILVER B INDUCTEES (1999 Squad) – The 1999 squad was coached by Steve Schulte. This was Schulte’s 3rd year as the Head Coach at Butte High School.

Jake Alt, Curtis Cooney, Mac Coyne, Pat Crossman, Corey Cutler, Travis DeMers, Bryan Edwards, Chad Erwin, Kiel Ferko, Shawn Fredrickson, Eric Halvorsen, Dan Hayes, Justin Powers, Shane Reilly, Chad Rogers, Dave Solan, Kyle Thomas and John Watts.

GOLDEN B INDUCTEES (1974 Squad) – The 1974 squad was coached by Dan Peters. This was Peter’s 2nd season as the Head Bulldog Mentor.

Dan Bersanti, Bill Boehmer, Wade Bristol, Pat Burt, Don Clark, John Coyne, Kirk DeVore, Jim Fortune, Glen Granger, Doug Gronvold, Steve Kambich, Bill Kraus, Tom Krueger, Dick LeCoure, Matt Lind, John Lowney, Dale McLaughlin, Bob Milodragovich, Russ Mitchell, Bob Nebres, Pat Ogrin, Kevin Pelletier, Jim Peltomaa (DECEASED), Bill Peterson, Paul Riley, Bill Riordan, Tim Schmidt, Rick Sholey and Don Warner.

DIAMOND B INDUCTEES (1949 Squad) – The 1949 squad was coached by the legendary Harry “Swede” Dahlberg who was in his 28th year as the Head Football Coach at Butte High School.

This year we are honoring a gentleman who will become our 20th Diamond B in the 85-year history of the organization. We are truly honored to be inducting Mr. Lee Whitmore Smith.

The remaining first year lettermen from the 1949 squad are now deceased. The Silver B’s would still like to honor the following gentlemen from the 1949 team:

Bob Bennie, Bob Butorovich, Gerald Dougherty, John Edgar, Don Galpin, Jim Garrett, Tom Grady, Jack Harrington, Alan Jackson, Jim “Gus” Janhunen, Jim Johnson, Wayne Kelly, Maurice LaPier, Richard “Gitch” Leppanen, Fred Moodry, Jim Moran, Don Puich, Jim Sevores, Glenn Shurtz, Mark Snow, John Stajcar, George Twardus and Ralph Worthem.