BUTTE, Mont. — Tom LeProwse, a Montana sports activities icon who devoted his life to athletics in Butte and Bozeman, died Friday on the age of 94.
ButteSports.com was the primary to report on LeProwse’s demise.
LeProwse grew up in Butte the place he discovered his love for sports activities as a member of the Butte Bulldogs.
LeProwse’s favourite highschool sport was soccer, during which he was an incredible athlete regardless of being undersized, enjoying heart and defensive deal with whereas weighing solely 150 kilos. His highschool profession ultimately earned him a spot within the Butte Sports activities Corridor of Fame.
In faculty, LeProwse attended Montana State College the place he starred on the soccer and observe groups, earlier than graduating in 1950.
As an alum, LeProwse lived his life as an avid Montana State soccer fan, and was ultimately inducted into the Montana State Athletics Corridor of Fame in 1997.
Following his profession at Montana State, LeProwse spent a few years as a schoolteacher, administrator, and coach for Bozeman Excessive Faculty, and is credited with starting the college’s wrestling and gymnastics packages.
LeProwse additionally owned a ranch between Belgrade and Bozeman, the place he raised a household. His nephew Jeff, former coach of the Butte Miners baseball group, remembers placing up hay whereas working at LeProwse’s ranch in faculty.
“He labored me to demise for five bucks an hour,” Jeff LeProwse joked. “However you understand, occasions had been completely different then.”
In his later years, LeProwse was an avid golfer up till his demise. In line with his nephew Jeff, He would golf 9 to 18 holes on daily basis.
Mentally sharp even late in his life, LeProwse beloved to inform tales about rising up and enjoying soccer in Butte.
Along with his love for his hometown, LeProwse was a proud member of the Silver B’s, and he by no means missed a Silver B’s Evening.
“I do not ever bear in mind him lacking a Silver B’s occasion in Butte,” Jeff LeProwse stated. “Even when he was in his 90s, I bear in mind him driving over right here by himself, going to the banquet, or going to the sport, then driving again. A 90-year-old man.”