Podcast
The ButteCast with Bill Foley
Hosted by Bill Foley · EN
Let's get to know some of the characters who make Butte, Montana the "Richest Hill on Earth."
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No. 372: Willie McCarthy
5d ago01:43:42Tap to summarizeIn Butte, we know him as Willie, the 1993 Butte High graduate with award-winning legs.In Missoula, where he is a successful lawyer and renowned Little League coach, he might be called Will, William or Mr. McCarthy. By any name, though, Willie McCarthy is a true Butte character. He is a Butte guy to the core.Willie grew up on Butte’s Westside, and he attended McKinnley Elementary before heading to East Middle School and Butte High School. He was an undersized defensive end at Butte High, where he was part of the 1991 Class AA State championship team.He is a graduate of Montana Tech, The University of Montana and The University of Montana School of Law.As a coach, Willie led a Missoula Little League team the state title two times, and those teams advanced to the Little League World Series, where the world found out that Willie with a microphone is a very good thing.This morning, I caught up with Willie over Zoom for a fun conversation. Listen in as he talks about the origin of his name, which comes from the streets of Uptown Butte.Listen in as he talks about growing up on the Westside, where they used to have some very prominent paper boys filling in for the boys with the paper rout.Listen in as Willie talks about playing for coach Jon McElroy and the lessons he passed on to the next generation.Listen in to hear that Willie is still a Butte guy, even after all these years in Missoula. Today's podcast is brought to you by Leskovar Honda, home of the friendly non-commission sales staff that always has your back. Intro music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com. For more from Bill Foley, go to ButteCast.com.
Transcribe →Tap 'er Light: Mr. Toivonen said it best
5d ago00:12:07Tap to summarizeWe should give women the benefit of the doubt when they cast accusations of discrimination and harassment against a man in power. The burden of proof should not solely fall on them to prove to you that they are not lying.It doesn’t matter if it is a Democrat, Republican or independent, believing women isn’t something we should only do when it is politically convenient.That is what today’s column is about. You can read it for yourself at ButteCast.com.Opening music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com.
Transcribe →Episode No. 371: Brian Miller
2w ago01:26:30Tap to summarizeBrian Miller is running as a Democrat for the House of Representatives in Montana’s second congressional district.That does not include the Mining City, which resides in the state’s first congressional district. Brian hails from a land far, far away called Helena. Still, I thought it would be good to talk to a candidate who is throwing himself into the ring to represent the people of Montana.He is running to unseat Republican Troy Downing. He is also running to defeat any and all data centers coming to the state.He does not say that is his major issue. He says that is his issue.Brian has been living in Montana for almost half of his life. He was born in Ohio and raised in the panhandle of Florida. He was eventually drawn to the beauty of or state, and now he wants to represent it to keep it that way.Earlier today, I caught up with Brian over Zoom for a great conversation. Listen in as he talks about data centers, the disfunction of the Montana Democratic Party and why he is running for office.Listen to hear that, even though we cannot vote from him in Butte, he is a candidate we should still pay attention to.Of course, any political candidates are also welcome to join the ButteCast. All they have to do is ask.Today's podcast is brought to you by Casagranda's Steakhouse. Eat where the locals eat. Intro music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com. For more from Bill Foley, go to ButteCast.com.Today's episode is also available on YouTube.
Transcribe →Tap 'er Light "Dusty Dan" Sullivan
2w ago00:11:17Tap to summarizeYou might have known him as “Dusty Dan.” Others called him “Deep Court,” “Sully,” “Sull,” or “Mr. Sullivan.”Whatever you called Dan Sullivan, who passed away last week at the age of 86, he was a Mining City legend through and through.That is what today’s column is about. You can read it for yourself at ButteCast.com.Opening music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com.
Transcribe →No 370: Remembering Dan Sullivan
2w ago01:22:18Tap to summarizeThere are legends, and then there are legends.Dan Sullivan fell into the latter category. He was a legend among legends. He was a Butte Sports Hall of Famer and a Montana Grizzly Hall of Famer.He was a Hall of Famer in life.Dan passed away Thursday night at the age of 86, and we already miss him. We miss the stories. We miss the laughs. We miss the singing.Dan was such a legend that one nickname wasn’t enough. He was widely known as “Dusty Dan” and “Deep Court Dan.” I always thought the “Deep Court” moniker came from his days in the handball court, where he was known for rolling the ball out from deep in the court.As it turns out, however, that nickname came from a writer in Missoula who noted that Dan could score the basketball from very deep in the court. So, the nickname was fitting for two sports. Dan graduated from Butte Central in 1958. He was a basketball star for the Marrons before playing basketball for the Grizzlies. At the University of Montana, Sullivan roomed with his good friend and Butte High Bulldog legend Bob O’Billovich.After serving in the Army, Dan ended up teaching for decades at Butte High School. His law class used to fill up faster than a Springsteen concert sold out. He was that popular as a teacher.In February of 2023, Dan met me inside the Vault at the Metals for a great conversation.After his passing, I figured today would be a great time to bring back his episode of the ButteCast. I figured it will be for all of us to hear the voice of Dan Sullivan one more time.I will have more on his passing in my next column. It is going to take a few days to digest.Funeral arrangements are still pending. I encourage all individual members of the Butte Sports Hall of Fame to wear their Green Jacket when attending the funeral.Today's podcast is brought to you by Thriftway Super Stops. Join the Thriftway Loyalty Club today and save big. Intro music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com. For more from Bill Foley, go to ButteCast.com.
Transcribe →No. 369: Reece Cox
2w ago01:24:13Tap to summarizeIf a guy could make a living coaching American Legion baseball, then today’s guest would be a lifer. Reece Cox just seems like he was born to coach youth baseball.In fact, the calling was so strong that Reece put off starting his career as a physical therapist in Denver for a few months so he could coach the Butte boys one more summer.For the past decade or so, Reece has been one of the most influential people involved in the revitalization of the Butte Legion program.He started as a player during the first year of 3 Legends Stadium in 2017. He was part of Butte Miners teams that came within one game of the Class A State tournament three years in a row.The year after his playing days ended, he was a coach in the program as the Miners won the district, state and regional titles in 2022.Reece has coached the Butte Motormen and Butte Muckers, the two feeder programs for the Miners. He has helped develop players, and his teams have won a lot of games. They have won a whole lot more than they lost.Today, Reece is in the process of moving to Denver to start his career as a physical therapist. This comes after the 2020 Butte High graduate earned his degree and credentials at the University of Montana.He says this is a great opportunity for him to work hard to become the best physical therapist as he can be, but he says he will be back in the Mining City someday.Last evening, I met with Reece at the Jack Crowley Clubhouse at the Highland View Golf Course for a fun conversation.Listen in to learn that there is an art to taking a bean ball, something that Reece did better than just about anybody.Listen to hear why Reece postponed that career start to coach the Legion baseball team. Listen as Reece describes PT as basically just another form of coaching. Listen in to hear that Reece is undefeated in fights with his younger brother, Quinn, an accusation Quinn vehemently denies. Listen in to hear how Reece’s older brother, Shane, is deadly throwing playing cards. Listen in to why Reece decided to go into physical therapy in the first place.Like with coaching baseball, this just might be a calling.Today’s episode of the ButteCast is presented by the Jewelry Design Center. Let Brian Toone and Co. be your jewelers for life. Intro music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com. For more from Bill Foley, go to ButteCast.com.
Transcribe →No. 368: Remembering Don Peoples Sr.
3w ago01:08:50Tap to summarizeThis past weekend, we celebrated the induction of the Butte Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026.This class of 12 individuals and five teams was the 20th class for the local shrine, which welcomed its first class of Butte sports immortals in 1987.Notably, it was the first class without its founder, Don Peoples Sr.Peoples, who served as chief executive of Butte-Silver Bow from 1979 until the summer of 1989, came up with the idea for the Butte Sports Hall of Fame during a conversation at a county Christmas party. He said he woke up the next morning, and it still seemed like a great idea. So, Peoples called Pat Kearney, and the rest is history.Peoples was also the chief executive who helped guide the Mining City through the tough economic times of the 1980s. He is the man who named us the “Can-Do City” and he pushed for Butte to be named an “All-American City.”Peoples was the patriarch of a great family full of athletes, coaches and some just awesome people.During the Butte Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet Saturday night at the Butte Civic Center, I said a few words about Peoples, who passed away at the age of 86 on March 18. Instead of a moment of silence, we gave him a long ovation to show our appreciation for all his great work.In light of that induction, which included his son, Don Peoples Jr., I decided to bring back the Don Peoples Sr.’s episode of the ButteCast. Mr. Peoples welcomed me into his home nearly four years ago to talk for my very first episode. That episode debuted on Sept. 12, 2022.At the time, Peoples Sr. was still riding a high from his grandson Dougie’s 27-foot buzzer-beating shot that gave Butte Central the Class A State boys’ basketball title that March.Listen in as Peoples talks about that legendary shot, his family and his work to help Butte survive the 1980s.Today's podcast is brought to you by Leskovar Honda, home of the friendly non-commission sales staff that always has your back. Intro music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com. For more from Bill Foley, go to ButteCast.com.
Transcribe →Tap 'er Light: The secret of Coach Street’s success
3w ago00:10:55Tap to summarizeJim Street has long been a legend in the Mining City.He epitomizes the saying “Butte Tough,” and he just might be the greatest coach who ever lived. In any sport.This weekend at the Butte Sports Hall of Fame induction for the Class of 2026, however, Street took that legend to a whole new level.That is what today’s column is about. You can read it for yourself at ButteCast.com.Opening music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com.
Transcribe →No. 367: Cory Cachola
3w ago01:27:36Tap to summarizeCory Cachola is a 1992 Butte High graduate who is doing some great things out in Portland, Oregon.I would tell you what he is doing, but I am not entirely sure. I just know much of his work involves the dreaded artificial intelligence, and those letters “AI” scare the bejesus out of all of us.Cory and I were journalism students together at the University of Montana in the 1990s. I can honestly tell you that he is the most talented writer I have ever worked with. In 1996, we worked together as interns at The Montana Standard, where we got a real introduction to the ways of the newspapers.He has been in Portland now for nearly a quarter of a century, but he is still very much a Butte guy. He went to Emerson Elementary, where he earned the nickname “Chewy” while playing “Kick The Ball.”At the Kennedy and Blaine schools, we played “Kickball.”Cory’s mother, Georgene, was my teacher at Butte High. She was the advisor for The Mountaineer, Butte High’s school newspaper. You might remember Cory’s sister, Lurene Kelley. She started her television journalism career at KXLF.Earlier today, I met with Cory over Zoom for a fun conversation. Listen in as we talk about the origin on his nickname and how those Emerson kids were just a little different.Listen in as we reminisce about our days at J School and the Standard. Listen in as Cory explains that AI is not necessarily a bad thing.Listen as we ask ourselves the very important question, “What would Neil Buckley do?”Today's podcast is brought to you by Casagranda's Steakhouse. Eat where the locals eat. Intro music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com. For more from Bill Foley, go to ButteCast.com.Today's episode is also available on YouTube.
Transcribe →Tap 'er Light: It was just Butch being Butch
4w ago00:11:51Tap to summarizeThe Butte Sports Hall of Fame will induct its 20th class this weekend. It is a class that, in a lot of respects, is long overdue. The class includes the late Jane Pascoe and Greg Salo. It also includes Brian Bolton, Bernie Brophy, Shirley Chesterfield-Stanton, Susie Hogart-Harrington, John Kovacich, Scott Paffhausen, Kevin Parvinen, Don Peoples Jr., Chunky Thatcher and Butch Starin.Today I am writing about Butch. I have known Butch longer than any of the other inductees. I have known Butch so long that I do not remember not knowing him.Also, Butch has to miss the induction. His son is getting married that day. Talk about timing. I’ve been hoping Butch would get the call to the Hall of Fame for a couple of decades. When he finally does, he has a conflict that you could not possibly miss.Butch will be there for the Green Jacket Ceremony on Friday night, though. Somehow, Butch will probably steal the show. In my eyes, he always does. Good or bad, it just comes naturally to him.That is what today’s column is about. You can read it for yourself at ButteCast.com.Opening music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com.
Transcribe →