Educator Gerald Roy Butler

Gerald Roy Butler was born in October of 1941, in Odessa, Texas.

Gerald was one of three siblings. After Pearl Harbor was attacked, his Dad went to war, serving in the Pacific Theater under Douglas MacArthur. Gerald, his Mom and his sisters moved to Roscoe, Texas, a very small farming town, to live with a great aunt, who had helped raise Gerald’s Mom. The great uncle was a County Commissioner and a share cropper. The couple were Childless. Today, Roscoe is known as being the home to one of the largest capacity onshore wind farms in the world, with 627 wind turbines, covering nearly 100,000 acres including the farm where Gerald lived during the war.

When his Dad came home from serving in the war, the family moved back to Odessa. His Dad went to work for Odessa Natural Gas. This company proved to be very helpful to Gerald in getting his education. They hired the sons of their employees each summer calling them “the school boys” and this job paid the tuition, room and board for Gerald as he attended college.

Also, his parents were able to help him financially. Odessa was and is known as the hub for the oil and gas industry within the Permian basin oil field and is the largest and most productive field in the world. It is responsible for 46% of all oil produced in the USA.

Odessa also has a connection to the famous singer/songwriter Roy Orbison. Roy was born in Vernon, Texas, but attended Odessa Junior College (some years ahead of Gerald) seeking a Geology degree in case his love of music failed to support him in a career. Needless to say, he did well in the music industry and brought fame to Odessa, Texas.

Gerald said his Mother did not approve of his listening to Roy Orbison and his band, billed as the Teen Kings, that came from the local radio station KMID on Channel 2. KMID was launched in 1953 and originally used discarded oil rigs as relay towers.

Gerald attended public school in Odessa and went on to onto the Junior. college, completing two years. From there, Gerald enrolled in Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas, choosing Education as his major and graduating in 1964. Gerald said he always liked school and liked his Teachers. He met Mary Parker on a blind double date set up by his roommate and the roommate’s girlfriend, who lived in Mary’s dorm and they were known to each other. Gerald and Mary could not remember what they did on their first date, possibly a coke date as money was scarce, but did remember the two couples came back to Mary’s dorm and played cards. Mary was the youngest of 7 siblings, from Madisonville, Texas, the home of the college, Sam Houston State, and she was also majoring in Education. Mary graduated from Texas Tech in 3-1/2 years.

Gerald and Mary married in December of 1964.

Mary secured a job in Shamrock, Texas, teaching home economics and Gerald teaching social studies in Lubbock. Mary had been living in a garage apartment, Gerald sharing a room with a roommate. They kept these living arrangements while they finished their contracts.

Gerald visited Mary at her apartment. After five months they were able to live together. They both had plans to further their education. Gerald taught in Lubbock and Mary taught in Tahoka, Texas. The Butlers then started spending the summers in Huntsville, living in student housing as they attended Sam Houston State College, Gerald earning his Master’s degree and Mary earning her elementary teaching certificate.

They moved back and forth for four summers, except one, as Mary was expecting their first child. They rented a house that summer, and Gerald painted the apartment for one month of free rent.

Then one summer, Mary stayed in Lubbock, expecting their second child, and Gerald in Huntsville getting his counselor’s certificate. Mary’s mother came to be with her in the last weeks and to attend to the toddler. Gerald received the call that the new baby was to be born soon. He was facing a 4-1/2 hour drive to be present for the birth. He made it!

Gerald and Mary got jobs in the Lubbock school district, Gerald as a counselor and Mary in an elementary school teacher. Gerald and Mary owned two homes in Lubbock, the last one being her dream home. Then Gerald was hired for the position of Principal. This job turned into continual time spent in disciplining students as Lubbock was in the process of combining schools, and many students seemed to feel displaced in these moves. Discipline can be very emotional for all concerned and is complicated, as there are many regulations set by the state of Texas to protect all people involved.

Gerald worked this job for 2 years.

He found out through channels that Throckmorton, Texas, needed a principal in their System.. He applied and was hired. Mary very much liked Lubbock, and they were and are ardent fans of Texas Tech. They now have a granddaughter who works for Texas Tech. And indeed, many in the family had been and would be educated there. Mary had no idea where Throckmorton was. She was not entirely prepared to live in such a small town, but loosely quoted the Scripture as “whither thou goest.”

They moved to this small community and were pleased with the move.

Within the year, Gerald received a call from a man from Olney, Texas, named Charles E. Mitchell, a much-loved educator for many years in Olney. Gerald was asked to consider applying for a Principal’s position at the Elementary school, vacated by Gary Sneed, who was also a longtime educator in Olney.

Gerald had been checked out by Mr. Mitchell beforehand. Gerald said he would be interested. Gerald was hired, and there was also a position for Mary. Upon being introduced to the school board, there was a comment about how long possibly Gerald and his family might stay in Olney. Charlie replied that Gerald had purchased a lot to build a house for his family to live in and a plot in the local cemetery for burial. Gerald served as Principal at the Olney Elementary until his retirement. Mary would later work at the Olney Junior. High.

Gerald and Mary moved into Western Heights apartments in Olney until they could build their house, a house to please Mary since she had given up her dream home in Lubbock.

Gerald and Mary had both grown up in the Baptist Church, and they, their children, and their children, affiliated with the First Baptist Church when they moved to Olney, and are faithful members today and are very happy at the Church. They have served in several different capacities. Gerald has served as an usher and on a Youth Pastor search committee. Mary has served on the funeral meals committee for many years, a very gracious ministry for members and, sometimes, nonmembers. Mary has been available to sew costumes for children on different occasions in Church and is part of a quilting group who do their work at the church, with quilts going to different needs in the community.

Gerald and Mary are now retired and enjoy time with their family, consisting of two children, three grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. Leaving Lubbock, so many years ago, was a big decision (Lubbock in my rear view mirror), but it turned into Olney’s gain.

During the fifteen years that Gerald served as Principal at Olney Elementary, he had the opportunity to serve in the community and in professional settings. Gerald was a member of the Lions Club and served as President.

He is also a past President of Region 9 Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisor Association, and he served on several Texas Education Agency Accreditation Teams evaluating other school districts. Gerald and Mary are active in the Texas Retired Teachers Association, serving on committees and also as officers.. The local chapter represents retirees of Olney, Newcastle, Throckmorton, and Archer City school districts. He says life in Olney has been pleasant, with good people and good schools.

Olney is glad to have them!