Wild Bill at his favorite games: the Sacramento
Valley games, 2003. Wild Bill at the Sac games in 2004 in the midst of his favorite event at which he was
quite proficient.
Billy loved tossing big sticks whether at games or at Frank Lux's place.
Bill and Joy, his loving and supportive wife of 44 years, at the 2004 MWC in Oregon.
William
"Bill" or “Wild Bill” Arnold Butler, a top athlete and driving
force in traditional Scottish athletics and games who also served as "chief
of the clan" for the historic Caledonian Club of Sacramento, died Tuesday,
December 26, 2006, after suffering a heart attack at his Fair Oaks, CA, home. He
was 64.
Mr. Butler
played a leading role for more than a decade in the Scottish games. He was a
member of the Caledonain Club of Sacramento, the Scottish American Athletic
Association, Scottish Heavy Athletics, and Scottish Masters Athletics
International Board of Directors. and helped organize many events on the West
Coast. He
co-founded the Masters World Championship for participants age 40 and over and
Scottish Heavy Athletics LLC, which produces 16 games annually on the West
Coast. He also competed as a top-ranked athlete in many events placing highly at
many games including Pleasanton, Sacramento, Monterey, and several Masters World
Championships. Bill's proficiency is evidenced by his high placing in many
events on the list of masters world records for age 60+.
"He was the
go-to guy for training, even for the younger athletes," said Bill’s close
friend and fellow athlete Frank Lux. "If there was anyone who wanted to get
into our obscure sport, Bill was there to welcome them and help them get
started."
He served in
2002 and 2003 as chief of the Caledonian Club, founded in 1876 to preserve
Scottish heritage and believed to be the oldest continuing group in Sacramento.
He was a past athletic director for the club's annual Sacramento Valley Scottish
Games and Festival in Woodland, one of the largest in North America.
He was athletic director when these games hosted the Masters World
Championships in 2002.
Mr. Butler was
proud of his roots and athletic record. At 6-foot-3 and 265 pounds, the former
Army paratrooper was a formidable competitor against many younger opponents. But
his strongest motivation on the field was sharing training tips, laughs and
camaraderie with friends from all over the country.
"Dad was
very gregarious and outgoing and wanted everyone to have a good time," said
his daughter Shelby Ruth Cuyno. "He
wanted to be everyone's friend and know what people were about and what were
their beliefs and their dreams."
He was born on
March 2, 1942, in New Castle, PA, and grew up in Sacramento as a diver and
wrestler at El Camino High School. He graduated in 1959 and served three years
in the Army with the 82nd Airborne Division in Germany. He returned to
Sacramento and married his high school sweetheart, Joy Powell, in 1962.
He enrolled at
California State University, Sacramento, American River College and McGeorge
School of Law, leaving each time without a degree to raise a family. In 1972 he
started and ran a janitorial business for 30 years. Bill
was a man of many interests who never stopped learning. He studied U.S. history
and genealogy and read at least two books a week, including Westerns and spy
novels.
He was an active
member of Skyline Christian Center who practiced tai chi for relaxation. He
enjoyed hunting, camping and fishing.
He was a gentle giant who stood on bended knees to speak to small
children who often climbed over him like a human jungle gym, his daughter said.
"Bill was the kind of guy who would give you the shirt off his
back," friend Jack Magee said. "He had a heart as big as all
outdoors."
Bill is survived
by: Wife, Joy Evelyn Butler of Fair Oaks; daughters, Carri Lyn Richardson of
Palmdale and Shelby Ruth Cuyno of Fair Oaks; mother, Ruth Eloise Butler of
Phoenix; sisters, Ruth Flock of Elk Grove and Elizabeth Althouse of Phoenix; and
four grandchildren
Memorial services
were held at Chapel of the Pines in Placerville, CA.
Bill at the Sac pre-game picnic in 2001sharing the picnic with Linda Scruggs and Dave White.
Wild Bill at Frank Lux's practice area in 2000. Bill (l.) confers with Frank Lux at Sac in 2004.
Bill (far left) with fellow age 55-60 competitors (l. to r.: Durso, North,
Tatem, Ross,
Bill (far left kneeling in front row) with fellow competitors at the
Pleasanton games in 1999.
Magee, Pogany, Scruggs) at the first Masters World Championships in Fort Smith,
Back Row (l-r) Kit Soneson, Vern Alexander, judge, Dan DeWelt, Mike North, Steve Wilson,
Arkansas, 2001. Bill placed second.
Frank Lux, John Ross, Bill
Scruggs, and judge. Front row (l-r) with Bill are Patrick James and Wade
Hurst.
Wild Bill (front row second from left) with the 55 and over competitors at
the 2004 Masters World Championships in
Winston, Oregon. Billy was third in the 60-64 class. Back row (l-r):
Bill Scruggs, Bob Verbanic, Jack Magee, Bill
Bailey, Vern Alexander, Frank Carl, and Dennis Rietz. Front Row
(l-r): Dean Ross, Bill Butler, Kent Durso, and
Mike Qutermous.