Butler County has lost a leader in the banking industry. Samuel John “Buzz” Irvine III, died Friday.

Raised in Evans City, he most recently split his time between Butler, Bluffton, S.C., and Key Largo, Fla.

Irvine, 81, had been the third generation leader of NexTier Bank, formerly Citizens National Bank, retiring as chairman of the board in 2011 after 52 years.

The bank began in Evans City in 1878. In 1907, the state bank charter was changed to a national charter, and S.J. Irvine, became the first bank president.

Irvine’s father held the title before him and his daughter, Margaret Irvine Weir, followed him. She took a different position in 2013, after the bank merged with Farmers & Merchants Bank of Western PA in Kittanning.

The Snyder Group of Kittanning now has majority ownership in NexTier.

Irvine was the first president of the Community Bankers of Pennsylvania, now PA Association of Community Bankers, when it was formed in 1972.

Irvine also served on many boards, including the Butler Country Club, Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, and the Evans City Historical Society.

Irvine and his family donated about 30 acres in Cranberry Township to the Evans City Library. Following the family’s wishes, that property was sold that property to buy the library, 203 S. Jackson Street in Evans City.

The library includes the Leone and John Irvine Community Center named after Irvine’s parents.

Irvine also served on the board of Oberg Industries for more than 50 years.

David Bonvenuto, president and CEO at Oberg said of Irvine that “he always challenged us to do better as a business and how we serviced our customers. He’ll be missed by this entire regional area.”

Irvine also excelled in sports, especially football. He was a standout player at University of Maryland, where he was co-captain of the 1953 National Championship team.

Afterward, he played professionally for the Chicago Cardinals, now the Arizona Cardinal, and eventually joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Canada.