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Butch statue unveiled before packed house
by Gregory R. Norfleet · News · September 04, 2024
The packed Little Rose Bowl erupted in applause Friday at the unveiling of a bronze, life-sized statue of former Head Football Coach Butch Pedersen.
A smoke screen temporarily obscured the view of a tarp-covered form while Pedersen’s daughter, Kari Zuniga, and grandchildren yanked the covering away amidst blasts of confetti providing extra fanfare.
Roughly 17 months after the 40-year coach passed away due to cancer, his likeness returned to the famed stadium and the Butch Pedersen Field where he led the Bears to an 80-percent win record, one of the best in Iowa high school football history.
About 15 minutes before the 7:30 p.m. kickoff between the varsity West Branch and Williamsburg teams, Pedersen family friend and former Voice of the Bears Wayne Laing spoke over the public address system about the special occasion.
“It is my pleasure to speak to you on this special night as we honor Butch Pedersen and the legacy he has left behind,” he began.
Pedersen’s wife, Jenny, and son Kip joined Zuniga and extended family around the statue on the northwest corner of the field where the Bears race down the hill ahead of each home game. The Pedersen’s oldest son, Lance, missed the night because he is the new head football coach at Clear Creek-Amana and was leading the Clippers to a 28-3 victory over Marion.
The current Bears’ coaching staff stood on the field looking up for the reveal as Laing continued.
“Tonight we honor our coach,” the originator of the statue idea continued.
Laing’s prepared comments covered many of Pedersen’s accomplishments: Since taking over as head coach in 1983, Pedersen’s teams acquired three state titles, 30 state playoff appearances, 22 district or conference championships, and 338 wins to 84 losses.
Those accomplishments attracted other titles and honors: Pedersen served both as a head coach and assistant coach at the Iowa Shrine Bowl, he coached 34 Shrine Bowl players, he was the 2017 National Federation of State High School Associations National Football Coach of the Year, and inducted into Iowa Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame and Cedar County Sports Wall of Fame.
“Family was always a Butch Pedersen staple, regardless of what sport he coached over the years,” Laing said. “And there were a lot of them. He considered his teams and coaches an extension of his family. He worked tirelessly to make sure the kids left his program the best version of themselves.”
Pedersen built a football program into a source of community pride and tradition, he went on.
“See, in this small town, football is a way of life,” Laing said. “Grandparents, parents, and children all played for Pedersen. On Friday nights, families come together at the Butch Pedersen Field at the Little Rose Bowl and watch the high school football team.”
During the fall 2022 season, Pedersen learned he contracted Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS), a bone-marrow disorder that reduces the number of healthy blood cells. He missed some practices but masked up and coached from the press box, getting to see his Bears return to the state playoffs at the University of Northern Iowa-Dome one more time.
“Like everything Butch did, he faced the challenge head-on,” Laing said. “He was going to fight and fight he did.”
While undergoing cancer treatment, he continued to prepare with the coaches and team.
“Many of you will remember the game we now call the “Mud Bowl” with a come-from-behind win” over MFL-Mar-Mac, Laing said. “Coach sat in the box coaching from above. He needed to be with his boys.”
Pedersen would eventually choose to end his cancer treatments and finish his days at home. Laing talked about gathering the coaches for one more meeting.
“Rather than focus on the bad, they talked about the team and the upcoming season,” he said. “His dedication to the program never faltered. With his family at his bedside, Coach Pedersen shared that he was really going to miss being with his boys on Friday nights and so the idea of a statue was born.”
Laing said he remembered Pedersen smiling at the idea.
“His wonderful wife, Jenny, knew just where the statue should stand, and here we are tonight,” he said.
Six months after his diagnosis, Pedersen died on April 3, 2023.
The Pedersen family created the Butch Pedersen Legacy Foundation which began fundraising for the statue, as well as cancer research, food pantries, scholarships, and other causes.
“Their work is not done,” Laing said, noting that the Foundation hosted its first golf tournament and plans to conduct other fundraisers. “The entire Pedersen family would like to take this moment to say ‘thank you’ for all of your support in keeping Butch’s Legacy alive. Without your support, none of this would be possible.”
He said he hopes the statue will symbolize the time-tested life lessons Pedersen taught to hundreds of students and athletes.
“Thank you for bringing Butch back home to his boys,” Laing said, concluding with the Foundation’s motto: “Strength. Love. Family.”
At the conclusion of his remarks, the crowd heard a recording of Pedersen talking about football, community tradition, and how the Bears found success “one game at a time.”
“It’s showtime, baby! Let’s go!” Butch shouted, firing up the team to play “smashmouth football.”
The tarp was pulled away to show Pedersen in khaki pants and a black hoodie, which he commonly wore on the sidelines.
The West Branch High School Marching Band introduced a new cadence as they marched onto the field and formed a tunnel.
As part of the ceremony, the varsity players gathered in the bus barn, not seeing the unveiling. A few minutes later they would jog across the edge of the bowl, huddle around the northwest stairs as per tradition, and encircle Pedersen’s statue to see it for the first time before rushing the field.
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