Richard T. Gregory, 90, died Wednesday at his home in Butler after a long illness.

Born April 9, 1915, in Argentine, Washington Township, he was the son of the late Anthony and Florence Macefe Gregory.

He retired as a ladle crane operator from the melt shop of Butler Armco in 1980 after 47 years.

A well-known athlete in Western Pennsylvania, Mr. Gregory won the Golden Gloves and the Diamond Belt Tournament championship titles as a lightweight amateur boxer in 1936 and 1937, respectively. He subsequently turned professional in late 1937 and enjoyed a professional boxing career until 1940.

After ending his professional boxing career, he became a promoter of regional sporting events and a notable trainer and coach of many local boxers.

He was inducted into the Butler Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1972 and the Beaver County Area Boxing Association Hall of Fame in 1975.

Mr. Gregory served in the Pennsylvania National Guard for eight years before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps. A veteran of World War II, he served with the 1st Marine Division at Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester and in the South Pacific area.

Mr. Gregory was a member of the VFW Post 249, the Italian Fraternal Society, Butler Armco Employees Association, and the 1st Marine Division Association.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Alexandria (Lee) Sokolovich Gregory; two daughters, Alexandria "Lexie" Jones and her husband, Ronald D. Jones of Butler and Danita E. Gregory of Glenshaw; and one son, Richard T. Gregory Jr. of Atlanta, Ga.

He also is survived by three grandchildren, Ronald A. Jones and his wife, Laura; Adam G. Jones; and Alexandria "Andria" Jones; a sister, Mrs. Jennie (James) Feruchie of Ellwood City; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Five sisters and five brothers preceded him in death.

GREGORY — Friends of Richard T. Gregory, who died Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2006, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the MARTIN FUNERAL HOME, 429 Center Ave. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 128 N. McKean St. Burial will be at Butler County Memorial Park, Butler Township.Members of the St Paul Guild and Christian Mothers will recite the rosary at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the church.Memorial donations may be made to the Visiting Nurses Association, 154 Hindman Road, Butler, PA 16001.Military honors will be accorded at cemetery by VFW Post 249.