Jack Butler ’51 Receives His Gold Jacket Friday Evening

CANTON, Ohio – Jack Butler, Class of 1951, was presented with his Gold Jacket Friday evening at the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Enshrinees’ Gold Jacket Dinner, the first of three Hall of Fame symbols the former St. Bonaventure and Pittsburgh Steelers legend will receive as part of his enshrinement into the Hall this weekend.

Butler’s oldest son, John, presented him with the jacket which now only 273 people in the world own. The other symbols of induction into the Hall of Fame are a ring – which Butler will receive later this fall at a Steelers home game – and a bronze bust, which he will get at his Enshrinement Saturday evening.

Members of Butler’s family, University President Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F. and former Bona’s and Steelers’ teammate Ted Marchibroda, among others, were part of the estimated 2,500 on hand inside the Canton Memorial Civic Center.

The evening began with a dinner before each of the six Enshrinees were introduced, with Butler saved for last. The nearly 80 Hall of Famers who were in attendance were introduced next, and despite being given a chair, the 84-year-old Butler remained standing for the half-hour ceremony and shook each of the members’ hands.

Following three awards given for the betterment of the sport, the night concluded with each member receiving his Gold Jacket after a brief video introduction, with Butler once again saved for last.

Butler will be officially Enshrined into the Hall of Fame Saturday beginning at 7 p.m. ESPN will carry the ceremony live. GoBonnies.com will have a complete recap later in the evening, but for updates throughout the day, and the remainder of the weekend, be sure to follow us on Twitter @Go_Bonnies.