KENNEWICK — Many know his voice; some know his name.

A lucky few know the man.

Most who enter Jimmy Butcher's world leave it touched and, with few exceptions, smiling.

At 42 years old, 5-foot-8 and 200 pounds plus, the self-described slow learner is a big kid in a grown-up's body.

At first glance, Jimmy's life is simple: Work, volunteer, go to sporting events.

His job isn't glamorous, but he does it with zeal. He's not a coach, but he teaches. He's not just a fan, he's a fixture.

His world comes alive at Tri-City Americans games. The Toyota Center crowd pulsates and Jimmy's their heart. There's a current in the air and Jimmy's the lightning.

"I enjoy the hockey games so much," he said. "There's energy and excitement when (the Americans) score. ... It just gets the whole building electrified."

Jimmy speaks in bursts. He uses exclamation points mid-sentence. Words like "energy," "excitement" and "electrified" embody their definitions.

It's the details of Jimmy's life that transform him from ordinary to exceptional.

First period: Keeping the faith

Jimmy, who grew up in Kennewick, can't remember the last time he missed an Americans home game.

During a recent contest against the Prince George Cougars, his voice emerged before he did. It took Jimmy a while to get to his seat. Kids howled for his attention, adults offered fists for a bump and then there was the holler.

Homer Simpson made it famous; Jimmy made it his own.

"Hey, Jimmy -- woo-hoo!" someone yelled several rows away.

"Woo-hoo!" Jimmy, obliging, shouted back.

Jimmy got to his seat about 20 minutes before the puck dropped. He sits alone in seat 1, row 10, section G, but he's surrounded by friends.

The chair next to his has a plaque fixed to the seat back. It reads: "In memory of Gladys Butcher; 1914-2003; Americans fan."

Jimmy purchased the plaque in honor of his late wife, a woman more than twice his age who used to sit quietly next to her boisterous husband.

"Even though their relationship was unusual, anyone that knew them could see that they cherished each other," said Gladys' obituary.

A detail emerges: Jimmy's sentimental.

About 15 minutes before the game began, Jimmy joked with a man across the aisle. Jim Perham and his family have sat across from Jimmy for more than 15 years.

Perham joshed Jimmy, Jimmy needled Perham, Perham feigned anger, they laughed.

Perham, 77, of Pasco, underwent a series of surgeries more than three years ago and missed several home hockey games while recovering. Jimmy put together a surprise: a get-well card signed by the entire Americans team that was delivered to Perham in the hospital.

Another detail: Jimmy's compassionate.

"I thought it was pretty neat that (Jimmy) did that," Perham said. "In a way, it surprised me."

About seven minutes before game start, Jimmy raced to row 1. He joined a gaggle of kids pressed against the Plexiglas cheering the players as they took the ice before the national anthem, which Jimmy will sing at the Americans' home game Tuesday.

"Hey, Lazo -- woo-hoo!" Jimmy bellowed to one of his favorite Americans -- center Johnny Lazo.

When Jimmy reaches top volume, everyone hears him.

"When (Jimmy) starts that hollering of his, people holler clear back across the arena," Perham said.

The players may not join the refrain, but they appreciate it.

"You block out a lot of the noise," said team captain Jarrett Toll, "but Jimmy is one of the things you can hear. ... You'll know when he's there."

Jimmy was in his seat when the puck dropped. Less than six minutes into the game, the Americans fell behind 0-1.

"You have to stay positive," Jimmy said. "No matter win or lose, they are still winners in my book. No matter win or lose, they try their best."

A few near-misses got Jimmy out of his seat, but the first period ended without the Americans putting the puck in the net. Jimmy's smile never faded.

Intermissions are meant for roaming, and Jimmy was on the move. First stop: section C to say hello to Luke Rogers, one of his bosses at Albertsons grocery store on Clearwater Avenue, where Jimmy's worked for 15 years.

Another detail: Jimmy's hard-working and committed.

"He's the model employee," Rogers said. "He does his job -- no complaints, happy-go-lucky."

Rogers, a 34-year-old assistant store director, couldn't recall the last time Jimmy missed a day. "If he doesn't come to work, you know something is wrong."

Charles Merwin of Kennewick has been shopping at Albertsons since he moved to the Tri-Cities four years ago. Jimmy's one of the reasons he keeps coming back.

"Everybody loves a happy face and the first thing you see with Jimmy is the big smile," Merwin said.

Naomi Elsen, 64, of Richland, worked with Jimmy for more than eight years. When she retired in 2008 Jimmy sang at her retirement party.

"The first time I went to a talent show and heard him sing, I knew he had something to offer."

Another detail: Jimmy's a songbird.

Elsen and Jimmy developed a close relationship. Elsen, a checker, often requested that Jimmy bag for her. While they worked, she'd try to boost his self-esteem.

She'd tell him he's handsome. She'd compliment his clothes and haircuts. When his wife died of cancer, Jimmy cried on Elsen's shoulder.

"I kept trying to build him up and let him know that what he did was remarkable, and let him know that God would shine on him," she said.

Second period: Infectious enthusiasm

Jimmy didn't make it back to his seat before the second period began. While standing behind an usher waiting for a lull in the action so he could return to row 10, the Cougars scored again. The Americans were down by two.

"You've got to have positive thoughts," Jimmy said.

Jimmy soon turned his attention to the referees. He looked at Perham and said, "There's three of them out there: Larry, Curly and Moe." Perham chuckled, Jimmy roared.

The refs must not have heard the jab; they penalized a Cougar and gave the Americans a power play. The Americans' score cut their deficit in half.

As soon as the light behind the net burned red, Jimmy was out of his seat. No clapping, just dancing. He burst up the stairs to the concrete landing and launched into a Russian Cossack-like dance -- crossing his arms and kicking his legs out in front of him.

Then he let out a torrent of woo-hoos as he fist-bumped elderly women, children, grown men and applauding fans in the rows above him. He celebrated well after the game resumed, returning to his seat with sweat on his brow and visibly out of breath. The Americans were still down a score, but the crowd was rejuvenated. Jimmy's vigor, never waning, had spread.

"He's a good cheerleader," Perham said. "He can get the rest of the people worked up."

The game tied as the second period expired. Jimmy jumped out of his seat and headed to section S, where his former elementary school teacher sat with her family.

Mary Sue Kelly of Kennewick remembers Jimmy as a smiling, positive boy. "He was a good kid, he followed all the rules."

Jimmy, who was born in Pasco and has six siblings, most of whom still live in the Tri-Cities, spent several years in Kelly's special needs class. She lost track of him after he left Fruitland Elementary.

Decades later, while shopping at Albertsons, she recognized her smiling student in a man's body.

"He's really made a life for himself," she said. "He drives, he's self-sufficient. ... He's just really made something of himself; he's a good example for other people."

Another detail: Jimmy's inspiring.

Kelly understands the hurdles he's had to overcome.

"Thirty-five years ago you didn't expect the kids to do as well as he has done," she said. "I don't know that I'm totally surprised because he was very positive, but I'm very pleased that he's kept up with it."

Kelly has spent 40 years teaching; the last 20 at Sunset View in Kennewick. Jimmy began volunteering as a crossing guard there in October.

"Even though I don't get paid for it, it brings a lot of joy into my life," he said. "I'm going to try to get on doing it next year if I can."

Kelly thinks Jimmy's presence at the school is inspirational and educational for the children. It shows them, and adults, that kids with disabilities can lead productive lives and that anything can be achieved with the right attitude, she said.

"I'm totally awed by how he's taken care of himself," she said. "He's totally independent."

Third period: Jimmy's glass is always half full

Once again, Jimmy was late getting back to his seat. A minute or so passed as he stood behind an usher, waiting for a break in the game. Before sitting down, he rubbed Perham's bald head.

With 12:13 left to play, Homer Simpson's woo-hoo reverberated through the arena's loud speakers. Jimmy screamed louder and several fans offered their versions in response.

About four minutes had ticked off the game clock when Kruise Reddick scored and put the Americans ahead 3-2. Jimmy went nuts. He danced longer, fist-bumped more people and rattled off at least a dozen woo-hoos.

"I love it! I love it!" he said after returning to his seat long after play resumed. The Americans hung on for the victory.

Jimmy's positive attitude had paid off, just as it does for him outside the arena. His outlook -- jovial, optimistic, effervescent -- keeps his world afloat and buoys the people around him.

He smiles, you smile.

Jimmy has been an on-ice helper for Richard O'Reilly's Tri-City Amateur Hockey Association beginner program for several months. Before Jimmy began volunteering with the 4- and 5-year-old hockey players, O'Reilly knew Jimmy through other amateur coaches. Before that, he knew Jimmy as the vociferous Americans fan. Now he knows there's more than a voice.

"He's got talents and skills in areas we don't," O'Reilly said. "He's making use of the hand he's been dealt."

O'Reilly of Kennewick said he too often sees people asking for handouts, trying to get others to feel sorry for them. But not Jimmy.

"I look at Jimmy and I don't see crutches," he said.

"He doesn't make you feel bad; you come away feeling good."

He knows the man.