Butler receives service award
By Sarah Chacko
Staff Reporter

The first Chancellor’s Staff Award for Outstanding Service was given to University Minister John Butler Thursday at the 29th annual Retirement and Service Recognition Awards Program in the Student Center Ballroom.

“Over the years, our recipient has provided service to large groups and to individuals, from freshman to graduate students, and has, in the process, lived the TCU mission to its fullest,” said Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Services William Koehler as he introduced the winner.

Community service had grown dramatically under Butler’s direction, Koehler said. Butler was the catalyst for many of the faculty to introduce service learning as part of their academic offerings, he said.

Butler has encouraged TCU to be serious about diversity and was partly responsible for the establishment of the Council on Diversity, Koehler said. He was also one of the first to provide a sense of security to students whose sexual orientation was not that of the majority, he said.

“From providing invocations at football games and other events, to offering private counseling to a member of the TCU community in distress — he is there,” Koehler said.

“He knows the right thing to say and the right thing to do, and he is always available to those in need.”

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Board of Higher Education has also recognized Butler, honoring him for his work in campus ministry with the Alexander Campbell Award.

Butler said he was especially honored to receive the award because it was given by Chancellor Michael Ferrari, who has done so much for TCU. He said the award is an important recognition of the contributions of the staff who make TCU an affective learning environment for students inside and outside the classroom.

“None of us are in this by ourselves,” Butler said upon receiving the award. “TCU is what it is because of all of us.”

LaLonnie Lehman, a theater professor, said Butler is always there when needed. His mission is to take care and give to other people, she said.

“He represents TCU and the kind of philosophy that we have for each other and towards our students,” she said.

While Ferrari was unable to present the award because of illness, he previously said he was enthusiastic about the award.

“It provides a wonderful opportunity to recognize the contributions of staff to and in support of students,” he said.

About 205 of the 235 listed faculty and staff members were recognized for their years of service, ranging from five to 35 years. Thirteen of the 20 listed retirees were also recognized.

The ceremony was followed by a picnic reception at Frog Fountain honoring Ferrari, his wife, Jan, and all the other retiring faculty and staff.

s.e.chacko@tcu.edu