William J. Buddy Butt died today, January 2, 2015, several weeks shy of his 94th birthday. I first met Buddy back in 1993 when I visited the Kingsville-Perry Hall Lions Club of which he was a founding member in 1953. One of my first fundraisers for the club was the annual vidalia onion sale in 1994, spending a spring Saturday morning with the former huckster and unofficial mayor of Perry Hall. Buddy had just turned 73 at the time and man was he a pistol. That was my introduction to the man and character known as Buddy Butt. I recall his stories of how his family came to the United States and settled quite near where I grew up around Hazelwood Avenue in Rosedale. He was also something of an entertainer and loved being in front of crowds whether playing his accordion (sometimes wearing lederhosen) and singing his trademark The Green Green Grass of Home, or simply telling jokes. Buddys wife, Marie, was a long time secretary at Overlea High School, and Im sure some of my classmates will remember Mrs. Butt from the office. I used to tease Buddy about his lack of height from time to time (it seemed like he was half my height), but he was a much larger person than you would know just by looking at him. Now, I hadnt seen Buddy in several years and only once or twice in the past decade or so, but you couldnt have met him and spent any time with him without him leaving a positive imprint on you. With the permanent shutting of deaths door, the pangs of hurt and sorrow find us, knowing that Buddy is now silent. I cherish my memories of Buddy and salute the unofficial mayor of Perry Hall with his favorite song with help from Sir Tom Jones. Rest in peace, my friend. Thank you for crossing my path. youtu.be/O1suiNZ-IlU
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 00:45:46 +0000