MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Dearing, Butler, Browning, Carmichael, Chassaniol, Clarke, Davis, Fillingane, Frazier, Hyde-Smith, Jackson (11th), Jackson (15th), Jackson (32nd), King, Kirby, Lee (35th), Mettetal, Montgomery, Powell, Stone, Wilemon
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO MOURN THE LOSS AND COMMEND THE LIFE OF DONALD BUTLER, FORMER CHIEF OF THE MISSISSIPPI HIGHWAY SAFETY PATROL.
WHEREAS, Donald Butler, 73, of the Hebron Community in Amite County, the former Chief of the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol, died Wednesday, November 25, 2009; and
WHEREAS, former Governor William Winter appointed Butler Chief of the Highway Patrol in 1980, but Colonel Butler distinguished himself in the 1960s when he played a key role in the state's Civil Rights Era. "Donald Butler was one of my special friends whose career as a law enforcement officer in Mississippi during a difficult time needs to be remembered by all of us who wanted to see Mississippi develop into a just and orderly society," Winter said; and
WHEREAS, Colonel Butler's 47-year career began as a Dispatcher and included service as a State Trooper, Highway Patrol Investigator, Chief of the agency's Bureau of Narcotics and Chief Sheriff's Deputy for Amite County. His last law enforcement position was Director of Law Enforcement Liaison with the State Department of Public Safety; and
WHEREAS, Colonel Butler graduated from Liberty High School and Southwest Mississippi Junior College, where he played football before joining the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol. He was a graduate of the FBI Academy in Washington, D.C., where he earned a personal commendation from the late FBI Director, J. Edgar Hoover, for his expertise with a pistol. He was a member of the Highway Patrol Pistol Team and was past President of the International Chief of Police Regional; and
WHEREAS, Colonel Michael Berthay, Director of the Highway Patrol, said "Butler took care of business. He was one of the longtime pillars of the Highway Patrol. That's basically why we have the agency that we have today. He was a trooper's trooper. He was a disciplinarian, a believer in a strong organization, and he believed in getting the right thing done"; and
WHEREAS, survivors include his wife of 53 years, Wilda Lee Moore Butler of Hebron; two daughters, Dee Dee (Randy Walsh) and Kim Butler (Mike Toler); a brother, Dexter Butler; a sister, Wydell Cox; two granddaughters, Deanea Toler Causey (Charles) and Brett Walsh; a grandson, Orin Walsh; two great-grandchildren, Mayce and Chayse Causey; two sisters-in-law, Mary Conner (Howard) and Martha Moore; a special nephew, Stevie Moore (Debra); special cousins, Paul and Pam Poole and family; special friends, Candy Coleman (Donnie), Rayford Causey, Lottie and Sonny Young; numerous nieces and nephews; and the Hebron church family; and
WHEREAS, he was a member and Deacon of Hebron Baptist Church. He loved to hunt and fish and made an annual trip to Colorado to elk hunt. His family said he was a very loving, caring man who spent much of his time with his family and especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, it is with sadness that we note the passing of this effective Mississippi law enforcement professional who stood for what was right, and we remember his selfless service to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby mourn the loss and commend the life of Donald Butler, former Chief of the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol, and extend to his surviving family our sympathy on his passing.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Don Butler, forwarded to former Governor William Winter and the Chief of the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.