South Carolina General Assembly
117th Session, 2007-2008

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Bill 4618


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A HOUSE RESOLUTION

TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE DEATH OF WORLD WAR II PILOT AND COMMUNITY LEADER, RAYMOND BUTTERS, OF LEE COUNTY, AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY, HIS MANY FRIENDS, AND HIS COMMUNITY.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Raymond "Ray" Butters on January 23, 2008; and

Whereas, Ray Butters was born in Detroit, Michigan, on March 10, 1916, to the late Raymond Butters and Vera Alice Barber Butters; and

Whereas, after earning his pilot wings in the United States Army Air Corps, Ray Butters flew combat missions in three wars, including the European Theatre of Operations in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War; and

Whereas, as a result of his role in the daring and difficult Memmingen mission against industrial and counter air targets in southwestern Germany on July 18, 1944, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross for employing a defensive tactic which succeeded in saving his seven-aircraft formation; and

Whereas, during his distinguished and meritorious service spanning twenty years, he also was awarded, among other citations, the Silver Star and the Good Conduct Medal and fives times received the Air Medal; and

Whereas, after his outstanding military career, Ray Butters worked with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an air carrier operations inspector and held the highest pilot rating of air transport pilots; and

Whereas, after his career with the FAA, he worked overseas for seven years with Airbus Industries as deputy flight crew training manager for the Concorde, Airbus, and Corvette aircraft; and

Whereas, in 1995, Ray Butters moved to Bishopville with his wife Linda and served with the grace and dignity of a gentleman in various civic and government offices, chief of which was chairman of the Lee County Airport Commission; and

Whereas, his extensive efforts resulted in a $750,000 grant to pave and extend the runway for the Lee County Airport, and he implemented a five-year capitol-improvement program for the airport. In recognition of this work, the Lee County Council renamed the airport Butters Field; and

Whereas, he also served on the Lee County Council of Aging, Communities in Schools, and the Arts Council, through which he founded the annual South Carolina Quilt Show in Bishopville now in its eleventh year and was instrumental in returning The Opera House to its pristine condition; and

Whereas, he was named to the South Carolina Aviation Hall of Fame, an honor bestowed on few, and received the Lee County Chamber of Commerce Citizenship Award and the Order of the Silver Crescent, the state's highest award to a civilian; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are honored to pause to reflect upon the life of Ray Butters and his contributions to his community, and to extend their sympathy for the loss to his beloved wife Linda, to his three children, James Butters, Christopher Galle Wood, Carol Schminkey, and to his six granddaughters and four great-grandchildren. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, express the profound sorrow upon the death of World War II pilot and community leader, Raymond Butters, of Lee County, and extend the deepest sympathy to his family, his many friends, and his community.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Linda Butters.

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