thedrifter
04-12-03, 09:36 AM
John Butler, a Victim of Agent Orange
I am very saddened to learn that my old friend, John Butler has passed due
to Lung Cancer. John was GM of the San Diego Chargers football team, and a
Marine's Marine.
John served in VietNam, and now joins the long list of young, (Age 56)
former VietNam veterans to die of Agent Orange. Fortunately John made good,
and didn't require the resources of the VA to survive, unlike many veterans
who die in poverty, while fighting the VA claim system.
Semper Fidelis... John, Semper FI.... may God keep you in his arms and care
for your family...
The funeral will be held in Champaign, Ill., with a memorial service also to
be held in San Diego. Further details will be provided as they become
available.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to: The John Butler Memorial
Cancer Fund, Union Bank of California, P.O. Box 54403, Los Angeles, CA,
90054.
(s) Dan Cedusky, Champaign IL 217-359-5139
ColonelDan@att.net
*********** article from San Diego Union
'We have lost a giant'
Chargers GM dies of cancer at age of 56
By Jerry Magee
STAFF WRITER
April 12, 2003
On the last night of his life, Chargers executive vice president and general
manager John Butler delivered what could be considered his final scouting
report. It was about himself.
As it so often was, his assessment was accurate.
"I was down there Monday to visit him," said Raiders senior assistant Bruce
Allen, "and I called him in the hospital Thursday night and told him I
planned to return. He said, 'Make sure the ticket is refundable.' "
Butler died early yesterday at the La Jolla hospital where he had been since
March 13 battling complications from lung cancer. He was 56.
"All of our thoughts and prayers right now are with his wife, Alice, and
daughter, Andrea," Chargers president Dean Spanos said. "He meant so much to
everyone here. It's hard to put into words this feeling of loss. We'll miss
him."
Said Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer: "We have lost a giant, both
literally and figuratively. His enthusiasm for football permeated
everything - throughout the locker room and the meeting rooms and the whole
facility."
Butler's death came two years and three months after the Chargers tapped him
in January 2001 as Bobby Beathard's successor in the hope that Butler's
stewardship would be as rewarding for them as it had been for the Buffalo
Bills.
Before coming to San Diego, Butler helped deliver the Buffalo club to four
consecutive Super Bowls in the early 1990s.
"He was a great gentleman and a great competitor," said Allen, who was
godfather to Butler's daughter. "He was the most fun person to compete with
and to compete against, because he was a great sportsman. And he loved his
family. His daughter and his wife were everything to him. I think he lasted
as long as he did because of his desire to take care of some personal
matters."
Butler, a heavy smoker until his daughter convinced him to quit two years
ago, disclosed last July that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer. He
underwent radiation and chemotherapy and the disease was in remission, but a
month ago doctors found that cancer had spread to his stomach and
intestines.
Even in the hospital, Butler continued to confer with members of the
Chargers staff concerning the NFL draft April 26-27, for him an area of
expertise.
Scouting was the phase of football that most fascinated Butler. "It was his
real joy," said Jack Wirth, a Worth, Ill., agent who had frequent dealings
with Butler through his time with the Bills. "I don't think he ever was
comfortable doing the numbers. He wanted to be out in the field, looking at
a kid. That was his life."
As general manager of the Chargers, Butler was responsible for dismissing
coach Mike Riley after the team's 5-11 season in 2001 and installing Marty
Schottenheimer as his successor. The Chargers finished 8-8 in
Schottenheimer's first season here in 2002.
Butler additionally had a voice in the Chargers severing what had been an
unhappy association with quarterback Ryan Leaf and leading off their 2001
draft with running back LaDainian Tomlinson of Texas Christian University
and quarterback Drew Brees of Purdue. Too, he recently had determined that
the team should not retain two of its most popular defenders, safety Rodney
Harrison and linebacker Junior Seau.
In the NFL community, Butler was known as a keen, decisive judge of football
talent and as a person with great communication skills.
"He was intelligent, he worked hard and he was very cooperative," said Marv
Levy, the Bills coach during their Super Bowl years. "He had a great ability
to connect with people. The players liked him; the coaches liked him. You
admired his competence, yet you could talk to him."
Levy had kept in contact with Butler through his hospitalization.
"The last time I talked to him, I sensed a tremendous weariness in him,"
Levy said.
Former Buffalo quarterback Jim Kelly called it one of the saddest days in
Bills history.
"The toughest thing for me is I know how much of a fighter he is and how
much he always had that never-say-die attitude," Kelly said. "When he was
first diagnosed I can remember him saying, 'I'm going to kick its butt.' Of
anybody, that's a guy I thought would be able to do it.
"I have nothing but fond memories of the guy. He was Papa to us. He was just
a great man."
Said Steve Tasker, a former Bills receiver: "He was respected as universally
as you can be in this league. He started as low as you can in the NFL and
rose to the rank of general manager simply because he earned it."
John Robert Butler was born Aug. 13, 1946, in Chicago and graduated from
Urbana High School. He served in the Marine Corps for four years before
enrolling at San Bernardino Junior College, where he played football for two
seasons. He also played one season at the University of Illinois before his
career was cut short by a knee injury.
Butler served as an assistant coach for three seasons at the University of
Evansville in Indiana before the late George Allen, then coaching the
Chicago Blitz of the U.S. Football League, recognized Butler's potential as
a football evaluator and hired him as a college scout. When the Blitz folded
in 1984, Butler was hired as a scout by the Chargers.
When former Blitz associates Levy and Bill Polian were reunited with the
Bills, they went looking for a director of player personnel.
"We conducted extensive interviews," Levy said, "and then we said, 'Why not
talk to Butler?' We did and he blew us away."
Levy said Butler showed up for his interview in Buffalo with a sheaf of
paperwork detailing how he would conduct himself in the post for which he
was being considered.
Levy was struck by how organized Butler was. "Plus," Levy said, "his values
were very winning concerning the type of player he would pursue and how he
would function within the organization. It just fit."
In 1993 Butler was named the Bills' executive vice president/general
manager, a position in which he would serve until late in the 2000 season.
He succeeded Polian, who left the club after a disagreement with one of
owner Ralph Wilson's associates.
"John was eternally upbeat," said Polian, now president of the Indianapolis
Colts. "He was always positive; he always saw the glass as half full. And in
his judgments of players, he was always decisive, and that's a rare
quality."
During Butler's time in Buffalo from 1987-2000, and as general manager
beginning in 1993, the Bills would qualify for the playoffs 10 times and
achieve the stunning record of 140-83 (.628). They became the first team to
play in four consecutive Super Bowls, in 1991-94. While they won none, they
underscored what it can mean to persevere, to try and to fail and to go on
trying.
Butler was only the fifth person to serve as their general manager in the
Chargers' 43-year history. The others were Sid Gillman, Johnny Sanders,
Steve Ortmayer and Beathard. Gillman and Sanders are deceased.
Butler is survived by his wife and daughter. The funeral will be held in
Champaign, Ill., with a memorial service also to be held in San Diego.
Further details will be provided as they become available.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to: The John Butler Memorial
Cancer Fund, Union Bank of California, P.O. Box 54403, Los Angeles, CA,
90054.
Sempers,
Roger
Rest in Peace
I am very saddened to learn that my old friend, John Butler has passed due
to Lung Cancer. John was GM of the San Diego Chargers football team, and a
Marine's Marine.
John served in VietNam, and now joins the long list of young, (Age 56)
former VietNam veterans to die of Agent Orange. Fortunately John made good,
and didn't require the resources of the VA to survive, unlike many veterans
who die in poverty, while fighting the VA claim system.
Semper Fidelis... John, Semper FI.... may God keep you in his arms and care
for your family...
The funeral will be held in Champaign, Ill., with a memorial service also to
be held in San Diego. Further details will be provided as they become
available.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to: The John Butler Memorial
Cancer Fund, Union Bank of California, P.O. Box 54403, Los Angeles, CA,
90054.
(s) Dan Cedusky, Champaign IL 217-359-5139
ColonelDan@att.net
*********** article from San Diego Union
'We have lost a giant'
Chargers GM dies of cancer at age of 56
By Jerry Magee
STAFF WRITER
April 12, 2003
On the last night of his life, Chargers executive vice president and general
manager John Butler delivered what could be considered his final scouting
report. It was about himself.
As it so often was, his assessment was accurate.
"I was down there Monday to visit him," said Raiders senior assistant Bruce
Allen, "and I called him in the hospital Thursday night and told him I
planned to return. He said, 'Make sure the ticket is refundable.' "
Butler died early yesterday at the La Jolla hospital where he had been since
March 13 battling complications from lung cancer. He was 56.
"All of our thoughts and prayers right now are with his wife, Alice, and
daughter, Andrea," Chargers president Dean Spanos said. "He meant so much to
everyone here. It's hard to put into words this feeling of loss. We'll miss
him."
Said Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer: "We have lost a giant, both
literally and figuratively. His enthusiasm for football permeated
everything - throughout the locker room and the meeting rooms and the whole
facility."
Butler's death came two years and three months after the Chargers tapped him
in January 2001 as Bobby Beathard's successor in the hope that Butler's
stewardship would be as rewarding for them as it had been for the Buffalo
Bills.
Before coming to San Diego, Butler helped deliver the Buffalo club to four
consecutive Super Bowls in the early 1990s.
"He was a great gentleman and a great competitor," said Allen, who was
godfather to Butler's daughter. "He was the most fun person to compete with
and to compete against, because he was a great sportsman. And he loved his
family. His daughter and his wife were everything to him. I think he lasted
as long as he did because of his desire to take care of some personal
matters."
Butler, a heavy smoker until his daughter convinced him to quit two years
ago, disclosed last July that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer. He
underwent radiation and chemotherapy and the disease was in remission, but a
month ago doctors found that cancer had spread to his stomach and
intestines.
Even in the hospital, Butler continued to confer with members of the
Chargers staff concerning the NFL draft April 26-27, for him an area of
expertise.
Scouting was the phase of football that most fascinated Butler. "It was his
real joy," said Jack Wirth, a Worth, Ill., agent who had frequent dealings
with Butler through his time with the Bills. "I don't think he ever was
comfortable doing the numbers. He wanted to be out in the field, looking at
a kid. That was his life."
As general manager of the Chargers, Butler was responsible for dismissing
coach Mike Riley after the team's 5-11 season in 2001 and installing Marty
Schottenheimer as his successor. The Chargers finished 8-8 in
Schottenheimer's first season here in 2002.
Butler additionally had a voice in the Chargers severing what had been an
unhappy association with quarterback Ryan Leaf and leading off their 2001
draft with running back LaDainian Tomlinson of Texas Christian University
and quarterback Drew Brees of Purdue. Too, he recently had determined that
the team should not retain two of its most popular defenders, safety Rodney
Harrison and linebacker Junior Seau.
In the NFL community, Butler was known as a keen, decisive judge of football
talent and as a person with great communication skills.
"He was intelligent, he worked hard and he was very cooperative," said Marv
Levy, the Bills coach during their Super Bowl years. "He had a great ability
to connect with people. The players liked him; the coaches liked him. You
admired his competence, yet you could talk to him."
Levy had kept in contact with Butler through his hospitalization.
"The last time I talked to him, I sensed a tremendous weariness in him,"
Levy said.
Former Buffalo quarterback Jim Kelly called it one of the saddest days in
Bills history.
"The toughest thing for me is I know how much of a fighter he is and how
much he always had that never-say-die attitude," Kelly said. "When he was
first diagnosed I can remember him saying, 'I'm going to kick its butt.' Of
anybody, that's a guy I thought would be able to do it.
"I have nothing but fond memories of the guy. He was Papa to us. He was just
a great man."
Said Steve Tasker, a former Bills receiver: "He was respected as universally
as you can be in this league. He started as low as you can in the NFL and
rose to the rank of general manager simply because he earned it."
John Robert Butler was born Aug. 13, 1946, in Chicago and graduated from
Urbana High School. He served in the Marine Corps for four years before
enrolling at San Bernardino Junior College, where he played football for two
seasons. He also played one season at the University of Illinois before his
career was cut short by a knee injury.
Butler served as an assistant coach for three seasons at the University of
Evansville in Indiana before the late George Allen, then coaching the
Chicago Blitz of the U.S. Football League, recognized Butler's potential as
a football evaluator and hired him as a college scout. When the Blitz folded
in 1984, Butler was hired as a scout by the Chargers.
When former Blitz associates Levy and Bill Polian were reunited with the
Bills, they went looking for a director of player personnel.
"We conducted extensive interviews," Levy said, "and then we said, 'Why not
talk to Butler?' We did and he blew us away."
Levy said Butler showed up for his interview in Buffalo with a sheaf of
paperwork detailing how he would conduct himself in the post for which he
was being considered.
Levy was struck by how organized Butler was. "Plus," Levy said, "his values
were very winning concerning the type of player he would pursue and how he
would function within the organization. It just fit."
In 1993 Butler was named the Bills' executive vice president/general
manager, a position in which he would serve until late in the 2000 season.
He succeeded Polian, who left the club after a disagreement with one of
owner Ralph Wilson's associates.
"John was eternally upbeat," said Polian, now president of the Indianapolis
Colts. "He was always positive; he always saw the glass as half full. And in
his judgments of players, he was always decisive, and that's a rare
quality."
During Butler's time in Buffalo from 1987-2000, and as general manager
beginning in 1993, the Bills would qualify for the playoffs 10 times and
achieve the stunning record of 140-83 (.628). They became the first team to
play in four consecutive Super Bowls, in 1991-94. While they won none, they
underscored what it can mean to persevere, to try and to fail and to go on
trying.
Butler was only the fifth person to serve as their general manager in the
Chargers' 43-year history. The others were Sid Gillman, Johnny Sanders,
Steve Ortmayer and Beathard. Gillman and Sanders are deceased.
Butler is survived by his wife and daughter. The funeral will be held in
Champaign, Ill., with a memorial service also to be held in San Diego.
Further details will be provided as they become available.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to: The John Butler Memorial
Cancer Fund, Union Bank of California, P.O. Box 54403, Los Angeles, CA,
90054.
Sempers,
Roger
Rest in Peace