Sights worth a second look
There are plenty of multigenerational alumni families who have kicked off their careers here on the Hill. But for one family, the legacy they left has been inextricably tied to the Green Terror football program since the 1950s.
Robert “Bob Sr.” Butler ’57 (Economics), Robert “Bob Jr.” Butler ’83 (Business Administration), and Woodrow “Woody” Butler ’12 (Graphic Design and Art History) each spent much of their college years on the football field, learning how the sport applies to the real world and making friends to last a lifetime: “I went there simply to play football and earn an Army commission,” says Bob Sr. “I left there with a degree, a career, and a wife, all of which formed the foundation for the rest of my life.”
“Growing up in a military household, we moved so often it was hard to establish any real, lasting friendships,” says Bob Jr. “WMC gave us our first taste of that, and the friends I made there are still my closest friends today.”
For this three-generation Green Terror football family, it’s a time-honored tradition that may not yet be over.
ROBERT “BOB” BUTLER SR. ’57: “I decided to attend Western Maryland College (WMC) because it offered me the best scholarship, was close to home, and I knew several of the football players who were already there. I had not considered college until my senior year in high school but had thought of an Army career. As a result, I enlisted in the Army Reserves while still in high school. I found out about the ROTC program and that was one of my major motives to give college a try.”
ROBERT “BOB” BUTLER JR. ’83: “I chose WMC primarily because both of my sisters (Della Butler Hager ’81 and Donna Butler Nichols ’82) were attending, they both liked it — as I did on my visits — and I figured it would make the logistics of college life on the family a whole lot easier.”
WOODROW “WOODY” BUTLER ’12: “I chose to attend McDaniel for the wide variety of options in majors and course focus, and I liked the small school and small class sizes. The ability to play multiple sports as well as the family ties ended up being the final piece in solidifying my decision.”
BOB SR.: “My four-year experience in football at WMC was disappointing as far as win/loss records were concerned. However, they were very rewarding in lifelong friendships and long-remembered highlights of individual plays and games. I learned that individual relationships between players and coaches are a vital aspect of the game and without them, the enjoyment and the success of the program is diminished.”
BOB JR.: “I loved my entire experience of playing football at WMC. I especially enjoyed the team camaraderie. Jim Hindman was a tough coach and an easy man to admire. He worked us hard, but the harder we worked, the more tight-knit the team became. I enjoyed that. Appropriately, in the photo I sent you (opposite page, right), I am on the bench, which is where I spent most of my time. I am number 82. Mark ‘Toke’ Jordan ’83 is number 77. He was my roommate and best friend, and still is. Playing football is relatable in so many ways to everyday life and life in business. The more you put into something, the more you will get out of it.”
WOODY: “Although our record was not what I wished it could have been, it was still a very enjoyable experience. Some of my best friends to this day are a result of my time on the team. I also believe the academic benefit of the work and scheduling needed to be a student-athlete is a great precursor to successful work-life balance after graduation. Teamwork and dedication to a group of people around you, regardless of the outcome, is one of the best lessons someone can experience.”
BOB SR.: “I’m very proud of the fact that both my son and my grandson played at WMC/McDaniel. I enjoyed their games and relived many of my experiences through them. I believe we may be one of very few families to claim three generations of football at the same college. I now have eight great-grandsons, so, who knows what the future holds?”
BOB JR.: “My favorite football moment is from Woody’s career, when he caught the winning touchdown pass against Gettysburg College at home in the last minutes of the game. I was also proud to be an honorary captain with my father and flip the coin at one of Woody’s games.”
WOODY: “Catching a touchdown to beat Gettysburg in triple overtime.”