In June of 2004, Matt Vincent and I made fun of the Butte Sports Hall of Fame in a Montana Standard column.

We introduced the “Butte Rats Hall of Fame,” with an inaugural class of Willie Corette, the “Say Heeyyyyy Kid,” Evel Knievel, Stanley Ketchel, Maruice Thompson and Harry “Swede” Dahlberg.

The goal of the column was simple. We wanted to get under the skin of our friend Pat Kearney, the chairman of the Butte Sports Hall of Fame. Yes, we were jerks sometimes.

We were funny jerks, but jerks nonetheless.

I am positive that the column achieved that goal, but Pat never gave us the satisfaction of knowing that. He never said a word.

One of our biggest criticisms of the Hall of Fame was that they put in way too many people. It wasn’t until more than a decade later that I realized how wrong we were.

Kearney tragically died of a heart attack in October of 2014, and I miss him nearly every day. I miss his knowledge, and I miss his friendship. I miss being able to call him up and saying, “Hey Pat, when was the last time …”

Pat knew the last time. He knew every time. His mind was like a Butte sports encyclopedia. Not only did he know the date and score, he could give you instant details of the game in question.

At a Butte-Silver Bow Christmas party in the 1980s, Chief Executive Don Peoples was talking to some people over a few drinks. They said a Butte Sports Hall of Fame would be a great idea. They talked and talked about it, like people do at such occasions.

The next morning, though, it still seemed like a great idea to People. So, he called the one man who know would make it happen. He called Pat Kearney.

On May 9, 1987, the first class of the Butte Sports Hall of Fame was inducted in a ceremony at the Copper King Inn. That class included Mining City legends Sylivia White Blaine, Bob O’Billovich, “Jumpin’” Joe Kelly, Swede Dahlberg, Milt Popovich, Jim McCaughey, Jim Sweeney, Bob Hawke, Bill Cullen, Bob O’Malley, Judy Morstein Martz, Danny Hanley and Walter T. Scott.

In July, the Hall of Fame will induct its 20th class. Kearney was there to lead the way for the first 15, and in 2009, Pat was voted into join the Hall he helped create. When inducted, Kearney said that he knew the Hall of Fame was a home run from the start. He just did not realize he would be one of the individuals running the bases.

After Kearney’s passing, a handful of Hall of Fame supporters scrambled to put together the Class of 2015. One of them was Jim Michelotti.

In May of 2016, Jim invited me to lunch at the Butte Country Club. He said he wanted to discuss some idea about the Hall of Fame. I took a notebook and a pen with me to that lunch, figuring he wanted me to write a story about his idea.

I also brought a list of excuses why I did not have time to be on the selection committee, and they were all valid. I did not have time then, and I do not have time now.

When Peoples and Mick Delenay sat down at the lunch table, I knew something was up. I knew I was in trouble.

They did not want me to be on the selection committee. They wanted me to be the executive director of the Hall of Fame. They wanted me to try to fill the unfillable shoes of Pat Kearney.

It was an offer I could not refuse, and not because of any threats or incredible salaries. I accepted it out of a responsibility to the sports legends of Butte. I did it for Kearney. I had to.

The next years were like taking a 300-level college class on the history of Butte sports. I thought I knew a lot about the sports history of my hometown. I learned how much I did not know.

Each year with a new group of nominees, I learn so much more.

I also learned how important it is to be named to the Butte Sports Hall of Fame. That does not just go for those fortunate enough to get the call. That goes about a thousandfold for the family members of the Hall of Famers.

That is why I have to answer a thousand phone calls and emails each year from people looking to get their parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, sibling, friend or teammate into the Hall of Fame.

That is why the people in the Hall of Fame care so much about the Hall of Fame.

One time I had a Hall of Famer tell me, with venom in his eye, that he would never attend another Hall of Fame ceremony if a certain team was not inducted. On the same day, I had another Hall of Famer tell me that he would never attend another ceremony if that same team was inducted.

He was every bit as passionate about the 100 percent opposite opinion. It seems like everyone has an opinion on the Hall of Fame, and they are all fervent.

That is why we had a big turnout for the public forum last night at the McQueen Club. That is when people have a chance to make their case to the selection committee on behalf of someone they love.

We have had people drive across the state on treacherous roads to speak. We have had people fly in from across the country to speak.

The Butte Sports Hall of Fame is just that important.

My job as the executive director is to try to make sure the committee members have the most complete information on each candidate possible. I also play a role in appointing those committee members, as well as sending out the ballots to current Hall of Fame members to vote on the veterans and contributor categories.

I do not get to vote.

The best part of the job is that I get to be there when we notify the individuals that they have been selected for induction into the Hall of Fame. There is never a dry eye around when that happens.

The toughest part is knowing that so many worthy candidates did not make it.

That, though, just reinforces the significance of the Butte Sports Hall of Fame. It is an exclusive club, and it is an important club.

Don Peoples was right to think that he was on to something after that Christmas party. Kearney was right to think that the Butte Sports Hall of Fame was a home run from the start.

I am not sure if it was because the Standard brass canceled Rat Chat or because or that we just lost interest in teasing Pat, but the inaugural class of the Butte Rats Hall of Fame was the last class.

Our shot at getting under Kearney’s skin was nothing more than a weak tap out to second base.

— Bill Foley, who wishes he could still teams Pat Kearney, can be reached at foles74@gmail.com. Follow him at twitter.com/Foles74 or Bluesky at @foles74.bsky.social. Listen to him on the ButteCast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you find your favorite podcasts.