Harold S. ‘Butch’ Boyer was one man who gave his all to the community and on Saturday, Sept. 6, they gave something back to him. The Butch Boyer Pavilion, located adjacent to the Daniel Boone Middle School, was officially dedicated at the start of this year’s Daniel Boone Community Days as a way to honor the dedicated resident of the area.
Boyer, 72, died on Jan. 28, 2013 and was prominent in the Amityville community, where he always strived to give back. He served on Douglassville’s Parks and Recreation Committee, was a trustee of the Amity Township Fire Department, member of the Amity Lions Club and St Paul’s UCC Church, Amityville. He also owned and operated Boyer’s Market and Catering, Amityville, where he adopted the role of a mentor for many of the young employees.
‘Butch turned out a lot of successful people,’ Michael Cross, employee of Boyer’s from the age of 13 to 21, said.’He would have us run the store while he was on vacation…He had a lot more faith in us than we did. He taught us a lot.’
Cross went on to become a CPA and he took over as Boyer’s accountant.
‘I have never met a man who gave so much of himself to so many people and never expected or wanted anything in return,’ Cross told Berks-Mont Newspapers. ‘I always considered him my best friend.’
The pavilion project was initiated last September where the Optimist Club began accepted donations and email addresses from those who remembered Butch. In a short amount of time, a twelve member steering committee initiated the head ways of the Butch Boyer Pavilion. The ground-breaking was held April 1.
Over 60 people turned out for the half-hour dedication on Saturday led by Boyer Memorial Project Steering Committee Chairman Curt Clifford.
‘We remember his goodness and kindness,’ Pastor Steven Simpson, St. Paul’s UCC, said during the community blessing to dedicate the pavilion.
A great deal of materials and labor were donated to make the pavilion possible, as it was a true community effort. Kayleigh Johnson, of Girl Scout Troop 1037, unveiled the recognition cabinet and plaques on display in the pavilion.
‘I’m surprised at the number of people,’ Harriet Boyer, Butch’s wife, said. ‘[Butch] was very much in giving everything to the community. It’s wonderful to see him honored in this way.’
Nathan Bonslaver, of Boy Scout Troop 597, completed his Eagle Scout project by organizing the crew and supplies to paint the inside of the pavilion.
‘It was a lot of work. I didn’t expect it to be but, thanks to my troop, we pulled it together in two days,’ Bonslaver said. Boys from the scout troop assisted him with the four and six-hour long work days. Patrick Bonner, of Boy Scout Troop 521, built the picnic tables set at the pavilion for the public to enjoy.
‘It is nice to see all the support in the community to dedicate and construct [the pavilion],’ Brian Boyer, Butch’s son, said.
A Butch Boyer Memorial Walk raised an additional $1,000 for the project the morning of the pavilion dedication. Clifford said if the money turns out to be extra, the steering committee would like to put that towards adding a baby changing station in the bathroom.
Overall the committee raised over $91,000 for the pavilion. ‘There was a huge outpouring from the community,’ Clifford said.
Clifford presented awards during the ceremony to Mark Sitler, who received the Chairman’s award, and Keith Berry, who received the Most Valuable Volunteer award.
‘Butch would have been very proud of the community,’ Clifford said. ‘He wouldn’t have wanted his name on it though.’
Major supporters of the project include J.P Mascaro and Sons, an anonymous community contributor of Douglassville, Michael and Judy Cross, National Penn Bank, Douglassville and St. Paul’s United Church of Christ.
The pavilion is just one way the communities of Amityville and Douglassville will remember this special man they call their own.