George Butler, age 86, is retiring from his job in the Community Service Unit of the Lakeland Police Department that he has held since 1988. This was not George’s first job, and as I sat and talked with him, I don’t think it will be his last.
George was born in Patterson, New Jersey, and was raised in Pennsylvania. He served in the Air Force during World War II from 1943 to 1946. In 1946, George was honorably discharged from the military as a Buck Sergeant. His last assignment was as a Crew Chief on a C47 that flew USO groups around the States for performances. Bob Hope and Martha Ray were two of the performers.
After leaving the military, George married Gloria, his wife of 65 years. George and Gloria had attended grade school together, and were reunited upon George’s return from the military. George quipped, “It is a good thing this stubborn Irishman married a good German Catholic woman, because Catholics do not believe in divorce. Otherwise, she probably would have thrown me out years ago.”
George began working for a construction materials manufacturing company where he worked for 25 years. George was a commission salesman, and he was very successful in his employment, but wanted to go into business for himself. George read about the plans
for a business opening up in Florida called Disney World in 1959. George started Butler Corporation, General Contractor and Building Supply, and was awarded the contract with Disney for the below ground construction on their hotels and other buildings. This is how George came to live in Florida.
George retired and passed on the business to his sons in 1988, but he didn’t stay retired for long. He was reading the newspaper and saw an article about the Citizen’s Police Academy. George attended and is now a part of the Citizen’s Police Academy Alumni. From here George became a part time Neighborhood Watch Coordinator, and eventually a full time member of the Community Services Unit.
George has eight children, 27 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren plus one on the way. George and seven of his children are avid Pittsburg Steeler fans, and they regularly get together to watch the games. George said he has one son that follows another team. He is not sure how it happened that his son took up with another team, but thinks possibly “someone dropped him on his head when he was young”.
George said that his father gave him the secret to such a long tenure of employment, and that is “Never call work, work. If you don’t like what you are doing, stop doing it and find something you do like. Life is too short.”
When asked what he is now going to do with his time, George said he is going to South Carolina to spend time with his kids. Of course, he also said that he saw an opportunity to manage a warehouse storage facility, and he has been thinking about that. We all wish George success in his retirement, and want him to know that he will be missed here at LPD.
George's retirement will be held at The Lakeland Police Department, 219 N Massachusetts Ave, on Tuesday, August 31, 2010, at 3:00 pm. The public and media are invited to attend.
-posted by Sergeant Terri Smith
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