Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is raising money to renovate the school's football complex after it names the field for Coach Lester "Butch" Leitl.

Leitl coached three sports over 41 years - from 1927 to 1968 - and retired from UWP in 1969. Leitl is known not only for his efforts as a coach but also as a mentor to student-athletes.

The dedication will occur prior to the 1 p.m. kickoff at the Pioneers' last football game of the season against UW-Whitewater on Nov. 15.

Thereafter, the field will be called Butch Leitl Field at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium. UWP letter winners and others interested may attend the ceremony.

As part of the tribute, UWP plans to expand the stadium facilities to include a new locker room and multi-purpose area to better serve a growing number of athletes. The new facility will be used by the varsity football and soccer teams, club sports teams and during high school events.

Several of Leitl's former student-athletes say the honor is well-deserved.

"He was a special guy - one of the people in your life you never forget," said former football player Mike Routhieaux, '65. "I remember how much he respected his players and their decisions, even if he didn't agree with them."

Gil Lindloff, '48, a former football and baseball player, said he fondly remembers Leitl's great one-liners: "'Sleep nights' was a phrase I heard quite a bit."

Lindloff added that Leitl always showed great concern for his players. "He made sure we had a place to stay and looked after the ones that were away from home," he said. "He was helpful when we were looking for jobs during college and after we graduated. Many of his players' first jobs were because of his referrals."

Leitl lettered in football at UW-Oshkosh and then at UW-Madison where he held the school record for the long-distance place kick for many years. He is an inductee into the UWP Hall of Fame and the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame. A decorated veteran of World War I, Leitl also is remembered for his emotional support of players leaving for World War II.

"Butch was a pretty tough cookie," said long-time friend and former UWP Assistant Chancellor Lloyd Linden. "He was full of fire and brimstone on the field but he was a really good fella to be around. He made sure his players were taken care of and felt like part of a family."

Leitl died in 1980. He is survived by a son, Jim, and a granddaughter. He also had one daughter, Mary, who is deceased.

The goal of the UWP Foundation is to raise $1 million for the naming and renovation project. Pledges and donations have been brisk. To date, more than $260,000 has been committed.

The project's funding will come from private gifts so construction cannot begin until a significant portion of the cost has been raised. Fundraising will continue through this year and most of 2009. Plans call for work to begin in summer 2010. Construction could occur sooner if funds are available earlier.

For more information on the naming, locker room project or dedication on Nov. 15, contact Holly Kaiser at the UW-Platteville Foundation at (608) 342-1879 or e-mail kaiserh@uwplatt.edu.

Contact: Holly Kaiser, director of Development, Major Gifts, UW-Platteville Foundation, (608) 342.1879, kaiserh@uwplatt.edu Written by: Russ Brickey, writer, UWP Department of Public Relations, (608) 342.1194, brickeyr@uwplatt.edu