The 29th annual Butler Road Race, presented by Butler Memorial Hospital, was conducted June 26. Mother Nature shined upon us with ideal weather for participants and spectators.

The annual race and its academic scholarship program have become a partnership among the all-volunteer board of directors of Butler Road Race, Inc., the city and Butler Township, Butler County and 50 race sponsors, one of whom was the Texas Roadhouse restaurant, which provided a $25 dining certificate to family participants who had four or more members.

Special thanks are in order to the Butler County commissioners, Butler County Chamber of Commerce, Penn Telecom and the approximately 70 individual volunteers. Likewise, thanks are in order to the Butler County Radio Network, and to the Butler Eagle for media coverage.

The city police and CB Rangers do a super job controlling traffic. And, we appreciate the patience and understanding of the motorists who had to navigate around Main and Penn streets for a couple of hours on race day.

Of course, we thank the nearly 600 participants in the five-mile run and the two-kilometer health walk and run.

I want all to know how much the road race board of directors appreciates the donations of time, product, services or money.

Much takes place behind the scenes without a great deal of fanfare. We could not continue to conduct this first-class Butler race without the kind of support we have been given.

Cross-country runners from county high schools, graduating from 1994-2004, have received 331 academic scholarships valued at almost $187,000. These numbers exist because of the donations of sponsors, as well as additional money offered by walkers and runners of the race.

By the way, the grade point average among those 331 students is an impressive 3.78.

Butler Road Race, Inc., is a tax-exempt, charitable organization that functions without a paid staff. This approach directs the maximum amount of money to the scholarship fund.

I would like to express appreciation to the scholarship recipients and their families from the classes of 1994-2004 who were able to arrange their schedules so they could participate in this year's event.

Our race has been in existence longer than any other in Western Pennsylvania. The year 2005 will mark our 30th year. Planning has begun to make it something special.

Former winners and other participants dating back to 1976 will be invited. Many people will remember the days when spectators jammed Main Street from Penn Street to the courthouse for the race. Quite a few businesses had sidewalk sales for the thousands of runners and spectators.

Bands played on street corners, or a boom box bellowed out the "Rocky" theme to inspire runners on their way to the finish line.

We'd love to see that transpire again.

Too many news reports deal with problems concerning young people. We are very grateful to those who support our efforts to recognize some of our best youth in Butler County.