30th Annual Al’s Alumni truly a classic

May 3, 2018

By David Nordby The Brillion News

REEDSVILLE – Al Peters’ name is a special one for Reedsville. Last Saturday it was established it would be sticking around for a while too.

The 30th Annual Al’s Alumni Classic was already a special afternoon for Peters. At the annual event he sees old friends, players and family who get together to play basketball and give away prizes. All the money goes for a scholarship to a Reedsville student-athlete.

Only this year, Peters didn’t know how memorable the 30th edition would be. He was surprised by Reedsville Superintendent Tony Butturini with the announcement that the high school gym would be named Al Peters Gymnasium. The idea was brought by the Alumni Association committee to the school board who approved it.

“I had no idea whatsoever,” a shocked Peters said. “When you’re named after something … it’s quite an honor. I’m just overwhelmed. I never even fathomed something like this would ever happen.”

If him saying it wasn’t convincing, Peters’ face when Butturini announced it was. Peters, who was a biology teacher from 1963-1998 in Reedsville, was first taken on a trip down memory lane.

Butturini brought out a skeleton, like Peters famously used to do to teach students the human bones. Butturini also made the gymnasium laugh with old files from Peters’ portfolio, including from his days at Ripon College. Butturini recapped Peters’ days as basketball head coach (1963-1979) and athletic director (1963-1998). He coached on the football staff for 31 years too. What did Peters think would happen after Butturini went through his career?

“I thought that’s where it would probably end,” Peters said. “[The skeleton]’s always been a big joke to all my students I had.”

Then the big reveal came. Many in the gymnasium knew what was about to happen, but not Peters. Butturini called Peters and his wife, Barb, up to take off a cloth from the table that had been set out. Underneath the cloth was the new sign for Al’s gym.

Please see the complete story in the May 3, 2018 edition of The Brillion News.