Harold "Butch" Gutke - A Football Hero
The following was recently asked to readers of the Herald Journal, "Tell us who you think the best Cache Valley athletes are of all time. To qualify as a "Cache Valley athlete" an individual need not be a valley native, they must only have competed here for at least one year."
http://hjnews.townnews.com/articles/2007/10/05/newtoday/newtoday02.txt
Below are some of the responses:
Brandon Who? wrote on Oct 10, 2007 9:59 AM:
" Brandon Stephens was a big guy and carried some athletic prowess but his abilities pale in comparison to the old time greats like Jay Van Noy, The Olsen Bros, Mr.Halaufia, Harold "Butch" Gutke or even the newer players like Riley Nelson, Chris Cooley, Nate Harris, Blair Hodson, Richie Geertsen. "
CV wrote on Oct 9, 2007 9:19 PM:
" If we are talking "all-time" and not just what we can remember from the past 15 years, Butch Gutke. Born and raised in Smithfield. USU football star from the early 40's. Drafted to the NFL, served our country in WWII instead. Coached for years at North Cache. "
Rick Okacek wrote on Oct 9, 2007 6:20 PM:
" 1940's USU football was Butch Gutke. A Cache Valley legend! Ralph Maughan, also a legend. Merlin Olsen goes without saying. "
LeRoy Timmins wrote on Oct 9, 2007 11:05 AM:
" Coach Gutke coached me years ago at North Cache. He was a great role model and coach and I heard he was a great football player for Utah State in his day in the early 40's. Although, I think it was still the Agricultural College at the time. "
Oxnard wrote on Oct 9, 2007 9:49 AM:
" Do guys like Jaycee Carroll and Cornell Green count? Most of the USU players are transplants and on loan for only a couple of years. I would think this poll is for the CV grown athletes like Blair Hodson, Ryan Pond, Rod Tueller, Ralph Maughan, Harold Gutke, Merlin Olsen, Phil Olsen, Jeff Crosbie, Nate Harris and many more. "
Guru wrote on Oct 9, 2007 8:51 AM:
" You can talk all you want about Ryan Zimmerman and Riley Nelson but guys like Merlin Olsen, Jay Van Noy, Butch Gutke, Ralph Maughan...those were REAL MEN and REAL HEROES. "
Long-time CV resident wrote on Oct 8, 2007 9:01 PM:
" If we are counting both people from out of the valley who have competed here, as well as the local grown, here is a good list to start with: 1. Wayne Estes 2. Merlin Olsen 3. Jaycee Carroll 4. Cornell Green 5. Jay Van Noy 6. Butch Gutke 7. Ladell Anderson 8. Chris Cooley 9. Kevin Curtis 10. Blair Hodson "
North Cache Alum wrote on Oct 8, 2007 12:51 PM:
" What about Butch Gutke? He starred for North Cache, Utah State and was drafted by the Giants to play football before he served his country in WWII. He went on to coach at North Cache for many years. Truly a legend in this valley."
Harold was invited to play in the NFL for the New York Football Giants back in 1943, but had to decline when he received a call from Uncle Sam (Navy). Here's the invitation letter he received from the Giants:
Obituary:
Harold H. Gutke
SMITHFIELD, Utah - Harold Hunter "Butch" Gutke, 79, passed away Friday, April 9, 1999, in Logan, Utah, after a valiant battle with Alzheimer's disease.
He was born May 25, 1919, in Smithfield, a son of Margaret Isabella Lewis and Joseph Andrew Gutke. He married Barbara Winn on Feb. 2, 1944, in the Logan LDS temple.
As a young boy he got the nickname, Butch, from delivering groceries for his father, who was a butcher and owned a grocery store and meat market. Harold loved people and delighted in visiting with customers.
Harold attended elementary and junior high school in Smithfield and North Cache High School in Richmond, Utah. Excelling in sports, especially football, he received the Plant medal as outstanding athlete. He played football and ran track at Utah State Agricultural College. He played baseball on Logan Collegians, Brigham City Peaches, and Smithfield Blue Sox teams. The New York Giants invited him to try out for their football team. Because he was drafted into the Navy however, he was unable to accept this invitation.
Harold coached football and track for 35 years in St. Anthony, Idaho; Sheridan, Wyo.; Tooele, Utah; and for the Cache County School District. At the beginning of World War II, he worked in the athletic program for Air Force enlisted men who were stationed at Utah State. He later served in the Navy during World War II as an athletic specialist.
He was an active member in the LDS Church. He served as a missionary in the Eastern States Mission. He was a high priest in the Smithfield 12th Ward where he held various positions as a home teacher, Young Men's president, high priest group leader, Sunday school superintendent, and teacher. He loved the Gospel and his family.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara; one son and two daughters, Robert (Marilyn) Gutke, Logan, Kathryn Israelsen, Smithfield, and Marilyn (Brian) Lundberg, Logan; 15 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister, Lois (James) VanDerwerken of Esperance, N.Y.
Harold was proceeded in death by his parents and three brothers, Joseph Worth Gutke, Ralph Lewis Gutke and John Paul Gutke.
Funeral services will be at noon on Wednesday, April 14, in the Smithfield 12th Ward at 179 N. 100 East in Smithfield. A viewing will be from 6:30 to 8:30 Tuesday night at the Nelson Funeral Home at 85 S. Main St. in Smithfield and from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the church prior to the funeral services. Burial will be in the Smithfield Cemetery.