Bernie Brophy is heading into the Butte Sports Hall of Fame. Again.

He was already inducted four times with championship teams — once as a player and three times as a coach.

This July, Bernie will finally go in as an individual, and it is a long-overdue honor.

Bernie was a three-sport standout for Butte Central in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He started at tight end for the 1969 state champion Maroons football team. A year later, he was a captain who started at tight end and safety. He earned first-team offensive and defensive All-Conference honors that season. For some strange reason, however, an All-State team was not selected that year.

He was selected to play in the 25th annual Montana East-West Shrine Game in 1971.

During his senior season, Bernie started all 18 games for the Butte Central basketball team. He excelled in track, winning the city championship in the 100-yard dash. He also ran the anchor leg on BC’s third-place team in the 800-yard relay at the Class A state track meet.

Bernie concluded his athletic career playing safety on the Montana State University football team under the legendary Sonny Holland.

Bernie was an assistant coach for the 1981 and 1982 Butte Central girls’ and boys track teams. The girls’ team won the state championship in 1981 and 1982. The boys won the state title in 1982. Bernie was also an assistant coach on the 1981 BC football team that advanced to the state championship game. 

After a brief career as a teacher, Bernie went into the granite business. He owned and operated Butte Granite Works for three decades, and his incredible work helped honor the lives of so many.

He has also long been known for being one of the nicest guys you will ever meet.

Yesterday, I met with Bernie at the Knights of Columbus for a fun conversation. Listen in as he talks about some of the incredible athletes that he competed with and some of the legendary coaches he played for.

Listen as he talks about growing up in Butte and how the Mining City was just full of incredible athletes. Listen as he talks about coaching great players like Brian Morris.

Listen in to hear as he talks about the honor of being called to the Butte Sports Hall of Fame.