Bill Callahan Sr. was best known for Buffalo Bill’s Roadhouse in New Kensington and his charity work

Comparatively few get to live out their dream of owning their own business.

But New Kensington’s Bill Callahan Sr. got to do it for 27 years.

Callahan, popular owner of Buffalo Bill’s Roadhouse on Freeport Road in the Valley Heights section of New Kensington, died Saturday at 79.

After finishing his stint as a supervisor at the former Union Spring & Manufacturing in New Kensington, he went into the restaurant business that specialized in baking chicken wings in a pizza oven.

“He bought a pizza oven, unbeknownst to my mother, and we would practice baking wings with different types of sauces in our kitchen until we got the right combination,” said his daughter, Christine Callahan Andrews of Allegheny Township. “From Day One, it was a success. There were highs and lows, but not many can be open for 27 years.”

Everything fell into place for Callahan, opening in what was a former Boron gasoline station at the corner of Valley Street and Freeport Road. He even started a lasting friendship just as the restaurant started.

“We met at the 14th tee as guests at Hill Crest Country Club one day,” said Bill Marmo of Lower Burrell. “David Choltco introduced us. I was working for LaRusse Distributing of Tarentum. I knew he wanted to open a restaurant, and that was the start of a great friendship.”

Fresh cut French fries also proved to be a hit with patrons to complement the wings.

Callahan was the right person for the profession.

“Dad was mostly known for his kindness and generosity,” Andrews said. “He was a people person; he loved to socialize.”

“I used to go down to the restaurant in the morning and have a coffee with him,” Marmo said. “Soon it grew to eight to 10 guys. People would see cars parked in front and came in thinking he was open. We’d solve the problems of the world every morning before the restaurant was open.”

Callahan did his share of charity work, aiding the New Kensington-Arnold and Burrell school districts.

For a period of time, he also sponsored a golf outing at Buffalo Valley Country Club to raise money for autism.

“It would be Buffalo Bill’s versus Joe’s Place (of Arnold),” Andrews said. “It raised tons of money for autism.”

Often after Valley and Burrell athletic events, Buffalo Bill’s was the go-to place to rehash the games.

Christine and her husband, Michael, will continue to operate the restaurant.

Besides Christine, Callahan is survived by his wife of 58 years, Judy, and his son, William T., of Cranberry Township.

Funeral arrangements were handled by the Rusiewicz of Lower Burrell Funeral Home and a Christian Funeral Mass was scheduled for Thursday at 12:30 p.m. at Mount St. Peter Church of New Kensington and interment at Greenwood Memorial Park in Lower Burrell followed.

The family suggests making a contribution in his name to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org.