2011 Midway Talk
Butch Butler Service Information and Biography Thursday, 22 December 2011 09:58 |  |  | 
Yesterday, Carnival Magazine sadly learned that Butch Butler of Butler Amusements passed away. The following message was released by Butler Amusements on Wednesday evening: It is with heavy hearts that we regret to inform you of the passing of Butler Amusements, Inc. CEO and President Earl “Butch” Butler. Butch passed peacefully at the age of 69 in Santa Clara, California early this morning surrounded by family and friends from multiple health complications. On January 2, 2012 there will be a viewing at the Oak Hills Funeral Home from Noon to 5 p.m. followed by a Rosary at 7 p.m. Address of Oak Hills Funeral Home: 300 Curtner Ave. San Jose, CA 95214 On January 3, 2012 Earl “Butch” Butler’s funeral will be held at St. Christopher’s Church at 1 p.m. Address of St. Christopher’s Church 1576 Curtner Ave. San Jose, CA 95125 Reception will follow the funeral, additional details will be available at that time The family asks, that in lieu of flowers, that instead a donation be made to one of the following Association’s Scholarship Fund (checks should be made payable to the respective organization fund) Pacific Coast Showmen’s Association Scholarship Fund Mailing address: Pacific Coast Showmen’s Association Scholarship Fun c/o Tony Guadagno 1242 Valley View Street #103 Garden Grove, CA 92845 or Showfolks of America Scholarship Fund Mailing address: Showfolks of America Fund c/o Sam Johnston, P.O. Box 294079, Sacramento, CA 95829
The following history of Butch's life was also given to us from Butler Amusements and will also appear in our February issue: Butch was born in 1942 in Austin, Minnesota. Beginning in 1955 his parents, George “Bud” Butler and his wife Evelyn started operating a game concession on weekends at various festivals. When Butch was just thirteen, he and his best friend, Tom Shobaken would help his father set up and operate his game concessions on weekends at various festivals sparking his interest in the carnival industry. Within a couple of years Bud and Evelyn Butler owned two additional game concession, a hi-striker and a basketball game. In 1959 Bud Butler purchased is first ride, an umbrella ride that was far superior than any he had seen before. Bud and Evelyn hooked up their new ride to their Cadillac and moved to California in 1960. Butch remained in Austin, working as a butcher at his family’s grocery store “Bud & Bob’s” while simultaneously attending Austin Community College where he continued his passion for basketball. During the summers, he continued to operate food and game concessions with Merriam’s Midway along with several other carnivals in the Midwest. In 1967, married with two daughters (Tami, 5 and Kelley, 3), Butch and his wife Mary Lou moved west to join his parents in California. One year later Bud called Butch to see if he wanted to purchase yet another ride, a Swinging Gym. They booked the ride to play the Nebraska State Fair and the Tulsa State Fair before reaching the golden state. With the success of his new ride and its profitability Butch decided to sell his home and purchase a third ride, a Tilt-A-Whirl. From 1968-1969 the Butler’s joined Bobby Cohn’s West Coast Shows. They played many spots such as: Great Falls, Montana, Salem, Oregon, California State Fair and the Los Angeles County Fair, both in California. This successful venture made it possible for the Butler’s to purchase even more rides. Butch and Mary Lou welcomed two more daughters, Jill and Kris. His only son, Sean Patrick Butler-Murphy was born March 15, 1990. On January 10, 1970 Butler Amusements, Inc. played their debut spot in Mountain View, California. That winter Butler Amusements contracted their very first fair, The Redwood Empire Fair in Ukiah, CA.The company still provides the carnival for this fair today. At that time each ride had its own ticket box. Butch’s mother, Evelyn is remembered saying “There’s no way we can handle this, it’s way too big.” Little did she know that the Redwood Empire Fair was just the beginning. Within the next two years, Butler Amusements had signed contracts with 12 more fairs, and by 1975, the company was providing the carnival midway at 23 California fairs. In 1989, Butler Amusements, which had been primarily a California carnival, took a major step by signing a multiple-year contract with the prestigious Portland Rose Festival in Oregon. Other out of state fairs soon became available to the company almost immediately. Within two years the route included the Western Idaho Fair, the Eastern Idaho State Fair , Central Washington State Fair , Nevada State Fair and Jackson County Fair in Oregon. In 1995, the Clark County Fair, Ridgefield, Washington was added and, in 1996, the Evergreen State Fair, Monroe, Washington. The winter route was strengthened in 1997 with the addition of the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival in Indio, California. Six more new fairs followed in 1998.The route expansion continued in 1999 with the addition of the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, California the La Paz County Fair in Parker, Arizona and the Colorado River Country Fair in Blythe, California. The 2000 season saw the addition of the California Mid - Winter Fair in Imperial, California and the Maricopa County Fair in Phoenix, Arizona. In 2001, the Cloverdale Citrus in Cloverdale, California, the Eastern Sierra Tri-County Fair in Bishop, California and the Southern California Fair, Perris, California were added. The route continued to grow from 2003 to 2008 with the signing of seven additional Fairs. Exciting news came in 2009 with the addition of our largest fair with the signing of a ten year contract at the California Exposition and State Fair. We also added again to our schedule the Curry County Fair in Gold Beach, Oregon. Two major western United States festivals also became part of our route, the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival, Garden Grove, California and the Chandler Ostrich Festival in Chandler Arizona. In 2010, we were awarded a new multi-year contract for the San Mateo County fair in San Mateo, California. 2011 saw two more fairs added to our route. These included the Big Fresno Fair, Fresno, California and the Washington County Fair, Hillsboro, Oregon. Today Butler Amusements, Inc. is the largest carnival company in the Western United States, providing the carnival for over 125 different events annually including 34 state and county fairs. This includes over 140 amusement rides that operate in seven different states including California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona and Texas. The corporate headquarters is located in Beaverton, Oregon, the booking and marketing office is in Fairfield, California and the winter quarters and maintenance facility is located in Santa Nella, California Customer safety and satisfaction have always been the primary factors considered when acquiring new rides and attractions. This has helped us provide the safest possible fun for Butler customers and be able to feature some new attractions each year. Butler Amusements is a family-owned and operated company. Building its carnival over many years into one of the largest in the United States was accomplished through the hard, dedicated work of the family and its employees. The fourth generation of Butlers is now actively involved in many facets of company operation from unit management to food concessions, to office operation and finance, to show transportation. Butch was unique in his vision creating the “Cleanest Show in the West”. This motto meant to him, clean-cut employees, new uniforms each year, a litter free midway, innovative food and game concessions, ATM availability and bright, colorful, new, high capacity family and spectacular rides and providing a safe and customer-friendly environment. Butch saw improvement was needed in the carnival industry, he took steps by improving carnival fair relations and thus promoting strong community relationships. His creativity and innovative skills have made him one of the most respected carnival industry leaders in the nation. He was honored to be inducted into the Western Fairs Hall of Fame at the association’s 2005 convention in recognition of his outstanding service to the industry and the countless fairs where he has been the carnival provider. Butch has consistently been one of the strongest voices in promoting improved carnival ride safety and game legislation in California. He has served in many leadership capacities, including President of the Showfolks of America, Showmen’s League of America, and Pacific Coast Showmen's League, Service Member Director of the Western Fairs Association, member of the Board of Directors for Preferred Amusement Risk and chairman of its Loss Prevention Committee. Butler Amusements was also recognized for its first class operation at the 2006 and 2010 International Association of Fairs Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada when it was awarded the Circle of Excellence designation by the Outdoor Amusement Business Association. This coveted designation by the OABA as the “BEST OF THE BEST” is recognized by the International Association of Fairs as designation of a well- run, safe, high quality and well- managed carnival operation. Butch Butler’s entire family is involved in the operation of the company today. Tami, the oldest daughter, manages the office at Butler’s Winter Quarters and Maintenance Facility while her husband Ron is in charge of the shows safety and transportation. Kelley, the second daughter, operates food concessions and manages her father’s unit office. Kris, the third daughter, along with her husband Mick, manage the other large unit that provides the carnival to fairs and events in California, Oregon and Washington. Jill, the youngest daughter, operates rides and multiple food concessions with her husband Lance who is the manager of one of the carnival units. Sean, a college student, and the youngest member of the family serves as a Unit Manager during summer vacations. Butch’s hard work and determination has provided a legacy for his family who he has said was his “finest accomplishment”. Earl was an avid sports fan, basketball being his favorite. It taught him the meaning of teamwork and a winning competitive attitude. Only second to his love for his family was his love for charity work. Earl was responsible for thousands of fundraising carnivals, was the leader in funding numerous public and private academic scholarship programs, donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to local 4-H organizations and many other charitable endeavors, too numerous to name. On behalf of everyone at Carnival Magazine, we express our deepest sympathies to all those at Butler Amusements as well as his friends and family. Last Updated (Thursday, 22 December 2011 14:33) |
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