This 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.

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