Butch Householder, center, 1967 Algona track champion.
A driver known for his clean and fast driving style, Butch Householder may have been one of Kossuth County’s best to climb behind the wheel of a race car. Householder got his start in racing in the early 1960’s, at the controls of a car built originally for Algona’s Shiney Hilbert.
After Hilbert had his turn with that first race car, Householder hopped in the seat with marginal results. Householder went to work on the car to make it faster. The efforts paid off as the results of the season led to one of the highlights of his storied career.
Householder’s fondest racing memory includes having legendary racer and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Roger Ward present him with his trophy at the season ending race banquet at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, IA at the conclusion of the 1965 season.
Driver Butch Householder and owner Wayne Meyer confer before the start.
While Householder is remembered for driving the number nine blue race car with a cat jumping through the middle (patterned after the Eveready battery icon), he spent considerable time wheeling for other car owners. Among the car’s he drove, Householder drove the ‘Ryan’s Musicland’ #83 for several years. He also spent considerable seat time in the Jo-Mart Steakhouse (Denison, IA) #65, the Swanson Automotive (Harlan, IA) #55 and in Wayne Meyer’s race car.
Householder also made an appearance at the Iowa State Fair race in Des Moines, IA driving the Honsbruch Drug #56. It was truly a ‘one that got away’ experience, as Householder held a commanding lead of a half lap when the car ran out of fuel near the end of the race.
Their racing schedule often consisted of Cresco, IA Wednesday nights, Algona, IA Friday, Denison, IA, Saturday’s and Alta on Sunday nights. Householder also ran Harlan, IA, Fairmont, MN, Mason City, IA and Boone, IA frequently.
He lists his biggest wins as the Boone Nationals event he won in 1970 piloting the Ryan’s Musicland #83 and the Iowa-Minnesota Dirt Track Invitational event held in Fairmont, MN in 1972 behind the wheel of his #9 car. He was the 1967 champion at Kossuth Speedway in Algona, IA.
Householder achieved plenty of success at his home speedway in Algona. Tallying many feature wins, point championships and fair race victories, he was a force to be reckoned with at the Kossuth County Fairgrounds.
Householder’s racing career ended in August 1973 after he sustained injuries from a racing accident in Mason City. He has been recognized for his racing achievements at the Boone Speedway and is a member of the Denison speedway Hall of Fame.
He and his wife Dorthy are retired and reside in Lone Rock, IA.
