Mercer's 1st Ever Meet of Champs Winner to be Inducted May 17
Published 3/18/2026
The late Deacon Van Butler (Dec 23, 1952-June 19, 2021) will be posthumously inducted into the Class of 2026 when The Mercer County Track and Field Hall of Fame hosts it's 3rd annual induction dinner on May 17th, 2026.
Van Butler attended Trenton Central High School and graduated in 1971. In spring of his senior year he took the gold medal at the '71 Meet of Champions in the 100 Yard Dash--setting a new meet record of 9.8 seconds. At the same MOC he took runner-up honors for the 220 Yard Dash.
With his win in the 100, Butler became the first-ever Mercer County high school athlete in history--men or women-- to win The Meet of Champs. The '71 meet was the 3rd MOC ever held.
Butler was also a 3-time Group IV State Champion and a multiple time sectional and county champion in his athletic career for the Tornados.
Butler is part of an induction class of 18 of Mercer's greatest ever female and male athletes in track and cross-country (See the full 2026 class list here). The class will be honored at Mercer Oaks on Sunday May 17th. The public is welcomed to attend the event--RSVP is required. INFO ON ATTENDING THE EVENT CAN BE FOUND HERE
© 2026 Mercer County Track & Field Hall of Fame
