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. 339: Josh Paffhausen
Apr 1501:25:08Tap to summarizeWho is the greatest athlete in Butte High history?My brother will probably tell you that it is Todd Ericson. Some of the younger generations will tell you that it is Tommy Mellott or maybe even Hudson Luedtke. The old guys will tell you, without question, that it is Bob O’Billovich, and they will think you are a fool if you disagree with them.They might be right.However, I will forever say that it is Josh Paffhausen, and my mind is completely closed on the matter. You will get me to cheer for the Packers before you’ll get me to admit anyone was ever better than my fellow member of Butte High’s Class of 1993, and I will never cheer for the Packers.Paffer was the quarterback of the 1991 Butte High Class AA State championship football team. He led the Class AA in all-purpose yardage two years in a row.He was part of the Montana Grizzlies NCAA Division 1-AA national championship team in 1995. He switched from quarterback to receiver, and he broke the school record with 15 receptions in one game in 1997. That record lasted for nearly two decades.He played the rest of his senior season without an ACL in one of his knees.Paffer was also a great basketball player for the Bulldogs, and he could run like a deer on the track. He was good at anything he did. He probably would have been the No. 1 player on the golf or tennis team, and I bet he would have been a heck of a cross country runner.Paffer was inducted into the Butte Sports Hall of Fame in 2013 alongside his father, Wayne. This summer, Josh will be back in town to see his brother, Scott, inducted into the shrine.Earlier today, I caught up with Josh over Zoom for a fun conversation.Listen in as he talks about his days playing for Bulldogs and Grizzlies. Listen as he talks about winning those titles and the Grizzlies’ return trip to Marshall to face Randy Moss and the Thundering Heard in 1996.Listen as he downplays catching 15 passes in one game and how he finished that season without an ACL.Listen to hear why Paffer was always a team player, even if the Butte High school paper once referred to him as “Everybody’s All-American.”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 →Tap 'er Light: Time limits are a sign of the apocalypse
Apr 1400:11:47Tap to summarizeAs Ted Lasso might say, time limits and ties in baseball and softball just might be the first sign of the apocalypse.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. 338: Jaxon Williamson
Apr 1001:24:17Tap to summarizeYou will not be seeing today’s podcast guest pitching for the Butte High Bulldogs during his senior season.Jaxon Williamson can only watch as the Bulldogs play their fourth season of high school baseball because he underwent Tommy John Surgery in November. Tommy John surgery means that the Ulnar Collateral Ligament was reconstructed in his right elbow. The procedure is named after John, who was the first pitcher to undergo the procedure in 1974.The surgery has a high success rate, but it usually takes 12 to 18 months before a pitcher can pitch again.So, Jaxon will not be on the mound for the Bulldogs again.That is a huge loss for the Bulldogs. As a junior, Williamson was throwing his fastball around 85 mph. He also led the team with a 3.00 ERA. He gave up just 14 hits while striking out 42 batters over 25 and two thirds innings in six starts.Jaxon was primmed for a spot near the top of the Bulldog rotation for one last run at a state title.But the pain in his arm got to be too much last summer, and he was forced to go to operating table, ending his pitching days for the Bulldogs.He will, however, pitch again. Since he has not yet turned 18, Jaxon will have a “super senior” year for the Butte Miners American Legion baseball team. He is hoping to parlay that season into a spot on a college team.Do not bet against him.Jaxon showed us his determination when he worked his way back in time to play for the Butte High basketball team at the end of the season. Earlier today, I met with Jaxon inside the vault at the Metals Sports Bar & Grill for a fun conversation.Listen in as he talks about the injury that led to Tommy John and the long recovery process. Listen to hear that Jaxon doesn’t dwell on the negative about missing his final high school season. He instead focuses on the possibility or his next season.Listen in to hear about the time Jaxon struck out the great Cayde Stajcar, even if Jaxon does not want to brag about it.Listen in to hear me incorrectly say that Tommy John was a Met. I must have been thinking of Tom Sever.Today’s podcast is presented by the Kvichak Fish Co. Think of it as salmon and halibut gone Girl Scout cookie. Place your order today.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: Please stop calling us ‘Buttians’
Apr 700:11:59Tap to summarizePeople from Butte are not “Buttians.” We are Butte guys and Butte girls. We are Butte Rats. No pretense needed.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. 337: Kelly Davis
Apr 301:30:44Tap to summarizeWhen I was 10 years old, I would often play football by myself in our yard or the front room of our house.At that age, all you need is an imagination to take you anywhere in the world. Mine took me to a football stadium in Bozeman where I played for the Montana State Bobcats with two stars named Kelly.Kelly Bradley was the quarterback for the Bobcats, who went from worst to first and won the national championship in 1984. Bradley passed for 30 touchdowns in that magical season.His big-time receiver was Kelly Davis, who scored 24 touchdowns for the Bobcats in his career.Davis was my favorite Bobcat player because he was a from Butte. Before helping deliver a title for Montana State, Davis helped Butte High win the 1981 Class AA State football title. He also won the 300- and 110-meter hurdles to help the Bulldogs win back-to-back State titles in track in 1981 and 1982.He set state records in both hurdles races as a senior.Kelly Davis, who was inducted into the Butte Sports Hall of Fame in 2011, grew up in a trailer park on Hobson Street in Butte, and he parlayed his football scholarship into a degree in engineering.He now lives in the Denver area, where he and his wife raised four daughters. Even though he lives in Colorado, Kelly is still very much a Bulldog and a Bobcat.This morning, I caught up with Kelly over Zoom for a fun conversation. Listen in to hear about Kelly growing up in Butte and how Betty Merrifield was the second-grade teacher who put him on the straight and narrow.Listen as he talks about competing in grade school track for coach Jim Patrick before playing football for Gene Fogarty at East Junior High School and then heading to Butte High.Listen to hear him talk about blocking for Don Douglas on the 1981 state championship team and playing with those “Cardiac Cats” of 1984.Listen in to hear how he welcomed the newest Bobcat national champions to the club.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.Today's episode is also available on YouTube.
Transcribe →No. 336: Paul Miranda
Apr 101:21:32Tap to summarizePaul Miranda is kind of a big deal. Just don’t tell him that.The 1986 graduate of Butte Central has a Ph. D in chemistry from the University of Montana. He also has a master’s degree in metallurgical engineering and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Montana Tech.Not bad for a kid who grew up on La Platte Street on the Butte hill.But don’t call him “doctor.” Just call him Paul. Those boys from La Platte Street have no pretenses.Paul works for Northwestern Energy, and he owns his own business, Eagle Engineering, which he calls a hobby.As of this spring, Paul is also the new coach of the Butte High tennis program. He is using a bit of a Ted Lasso approach as he looks to build something special for the Bulldogs.And Paul knows what it is like to be something special on the tennis court. He helped start the Butte Central tennis program when he was in school, and played at the state tournament for the Maroons. After high school, Paul won more tennis titles than he can even remember.Thanks to some health issues, Paul no longer plays tennis, but he can still coach it. Likewise, he no longer referees basketball. But after his 20-plus years working high school and Frontier Conference games, he is as good of coach for new officials as you will find.Earlie today, I met with Paul inside the vault at the Metals Sports Bar & Grill for a fun conversation. Listen in as he talks about his plans for the Bulldog team that played its first matches last Friday.Listen as he talks about growing up on the hill and his years at Butte Central, where he was the very tiny manager of the 1984 Class A State champion boys’ basketball team. Listen as he talks about the burning feeling he gets when he puts on his Butte High Bulldogs hat.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. 335: Debbie Shea
Mar 3101:42:19Tap to summarizeDebbie (Bowman) Shea is a retired teacher who spent 26 years educating the youth of Butte.She also spent 11 years in the Montana Legislature, working to make lives better for the people of the Mining City and the State of Montana.There, she got to work with great Butte statesmen like Fritz Daily, Bob Pavlovich, Joe Quilici and J.D. Lynch. The fact that Debbie is retired, however, does not mean she gave up her work to impact the next generations. She is an author who has been a part of releasing four books.Like her previous work, her latest book focuses on history. This one, “Walking With an Irish Immigrant,” is a book about the grandmother she never knew. It is a tribute to her grandmother.Abigail “Bina” Harrington Healy moved to Butte from Ireland and lived an exceptional, but relatively short life. She passed away before Debbie was born. She lived through the Irish Revolution and the Great Depression. She was even briefly part of a bootlegging operation in Butte, and that is all in the book.Debbie asked questions about her grandmother, but it wasn’t until recent years that she really dove into researching her for the latest project.The book can be found The Corner Bookstore (1877 Harrison Ave.) and on Amazon. It is also likely available at other Butte bookstores.Now a resident of Boise, Idaho, where she can be closer to her grandchildren, Debbie is still — and always will be — a Butte girl.She grew up in Muckerville, living in her family home on the corner of Montana and Woolman until she was what is now considered middle school age. She attended St. Mary’s Grade School and has always embraced her Irish heritage. Later this spring, she will make her 10th visit to “The Emerald Isle.”This morning, I met with Debbie over Zoom for a fun conversation. Listen in as she talks about her grandmother and why she was so fascinated with her story. Listen as she talks about the Butte neighborhoods and why preserving that history is so important.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.This episode is also available on YouTube.
Transcribe →Tap 'er Light: Missoula thieves steal joy of Duke loss
Mar 3100:11:59Tap to summarizeWatching Duke lose is one of my favorite things. Watching the Blue Devils lose in the NCAA tournament is better than watching the Dallas Cowboys lose on Thanksgiving.Sunday, America got to see that happen thanks to an incredible comeback and a play that will be played over and over for decade.Because some thief or thieves stole my daughter’s wheel — Bed-Stuy style — near the University of Montana on Sunday, I was robbed of that Duke losing joy.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 →Tap ’er Light Don Peoples Sr.
Mar 2400:12:55Tap to summarizeDon Peoples Sr. passed away at the age of 86 last week. He was chief executive of Butte-Silver Bow from 1979 through 1989.The 1980s brought economic despair to the Mining City with the closing of the mines. Butte survived — and even thrived — because Peoples was the chief executive of Butte-Silver Bow every year of the 1980s. He led us through that difficult decade with toughness, determination and an impossible sense of optimism.A saddened community said goodbye to the man who just might have been its best leader of all yesterday. Without the leadership of Peoples in the 1980s, that sad community might not exist at all.At least it would not have existed like it does today.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. 334: Mitzi Rossillon
Mar 2301:15:30Tap to summarizeMitzi Rossillon is an archeologist and historian in Butte. Her work helped save the Dublin Gulch from being buried in toxic waste.At least we hope it has saved Butte’s first neighborhood.Mitzi grew up in Colorado. She came to Butte in 1990 and never left. She currently operates as a consultant to anyone who needs to consult with an archeologist. Mitzi served on the Butte Historic Preservation Commission, where she was never afraid to speak out when the board was not being listened too. That is why she is no longer a member of the board.Earlier this year, Mitzi filed to run to represent District 11 on the Butte-Silver Bow Council of Commissioners. She promises a strong voice to represent the people of her neighborhood.Late last week, I caught up with Mitzi in a conference room near her office in the old Boys’ Central building for a fun conversation.Listen in to hear what brought Mitzi to Butte and why she stayed. Listen to hear why she fights so hard to preserve history and why she is running for the District 11 seat.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.
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