Slater

George "Red" N. Slater, 81, of Meridian, passed away Friday at his home after an extended illness.

Throughout his life, he was well known as a coach for various sports programs in Butler County up until the time of his death. Butler has lost a longtime founding member, historian and advocate for youth athletics throughout the county, and he will be missed.

His interest in sports began in high school. In 1945, he graduated from Butler High School where he participated on the track team as a high jumper and javelin thrower. After high school, he enlisted in the Navy where he served on Saipan in the South Pacific and received a Purple Heart. He also participated in the Navy's boxing program.

As well as playing semipro football for the Butler Cubs and the Detroit Michigan Carbon Athletic Club, he played baseball and basketball throughout the county. He was also a former scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates and was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan.

He retired from West Penn Power in 1990 as a lineman operating foreman and certified CPR and first aid instructor.

Throughout his 62-year coaching career, he coached the youth of Butler in baseball, football and basketball, and was devoted to establishing and maintaining those programs. He had been the longest, continually active coach in the county and had guided a team every year since 1946. His contributions to the Butler sports arena include: co-founder of the Meridian Booster Association; co-founder of the Midcounty Jr. Baseball League and coach of the Meridian Colt team; co-founder of the Butler Recreation Basketball League; founder of the Meridian Raiders midget football team and coach for Meridian and Center Township teams; past coach of Moniteau High School's football and baseball teams and coach for the Council of Church's and Butler Deanery League.

He also sat on the board of directors for the Butler Area Midget Football League and the Western Pennsylvania Amateur Baseball League, and was administrator of the St. Fidelis Catholic Church basketball program. Many of the youth he coached went on to play professional sports.

He received many awards during his life for his contributions to the athletics programs in Butler County. In 1980, he was inducted into the Butler Sports Hall of Fame; was chosen by the Butler Eagle as one of Butler County's Sports Legends in 2005; was awarded a Butler Football Hometown Hero award in 2006; was inducted into the Butler Area Midget Football League Hall of Fame in 2008; received a 1969 Meridian Booster Youth Appreciation Award; received a 1970 U.S. Jaycee's Metropolitan Life Award for Leadership in Youth Physical Fitness; received a 1983 Burger King Meridian Youth Award and the Meridian Boosters Association scholarship award was renamed as the George "Red" Slater Scholarship in his honor.

In addition, he was an active community member, serving on the Butler Township long range planning recreation committee and sat on the board of directors for ARC of Butler County and the Butler Sports Hall of Fame. He was a member of Post 778 American Legion of Lyndora and The Esquire Club.

Surviving are six children, Georgia Slater, Gary Slater (Cher), Gloria Yaracs (Andrew), Glenda Kelly (Patrick), Gail Slater and Gavon Slater; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild and his sister Vivian Snyder, all of Butler.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond N. Slater and Edna C. Slater, and the mother of his children and friend, Norma J. Slater.

<B>SLATER</B> — Friends of George "Red" N. Slater, who died Friday, May 22, 2009, will be received at the Geibel Funeral Home, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler, from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Fidelis Roman Catholic Church, 125 Buttercup Road, Meridian. No visitation will take place Monday due to the Memorial Day holiday. Interment will follow in Butler County Memorial Park Cemetery.The Bereavement Committee of St. Fidelis Parish will meet at 3 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home to conduct a Vigil Service.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Butler Area Midget Football League, P.O. Box 61, Butler.Information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.