Many of you knew Butch Hunt from your association with him on campus back in the late 1960s, and some of you got to know him after college through personal flights with him in his airplane. Butch was truly one of a kind guy. If there were four people in a room talking amongst themselves, but only three of them actually saying anything, the one quiet person always seemed to be Butch. Though quiet at times, Butch was a caring and warm guy to be around. I can honestly say that I never heard Butch utter a harsh word against anyone.
I was thinking about the summer of 1967, one of those times when I was making up credits from my disastrous first semester on campus back in 1965-66 when I had been ill advised to take Junior Calculus and Advance Physics, and I vaguely remember that I shared a room in Napier with Butch for one of the very short summer sessions. I’d like to tell you about all the things we discussed in the evenings, but it just wasn’t so. I can’t even remember one good, in-depth conversation that we shared. He was just there, quietly reading or pondering at his desk while I was cramming for tests and finals.
I will always remember Butch fondly. I know all of you feel the same.
Wayne Burdette – SIGMA ’68
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Butch Hunt will always be a super dude who has that dry humor that makes you stop and say, “what did you say?” Then all is in laughter as that humor is there.
Butch talked me into flying with him to Livingston Univ. one day to pick up a friend of his. The flight was in a twin engine something or nother and Butch handled that plane like a pro. I would not hesitate to fly with Butch any where in any plane at any time!
You are the best!
Prayers are with you Butch. Bill S
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Hey Lightning,
First of all, I want to say that the news about your illness really hit me hard…a real gut punch. Since I got that word, I have tried to formulate in my mind a message to you. I mulled over several thoughts and formats, and I finally opted for a simple thank you note. There are entirely too many things to cover, so I’ll just hit a few highlights:
— Thank you, Butch, for the occasional extra scoop of ice cream in the milk shakes you made while serving as the “soda jerk” (among other things) at Jake Vaughn’s drug store in Bluff Park. Next to you, Jake was about the nicest guy in town. Of course, that was back in the good old days when drug stores were called, of all things, drug stores…not pharmacies! And they were owned and operated by one person who actually cared about his customers! The poor kids of today don’t even know what a soda jerk is.
— Thank you, Butch, for all the rides to and from Berry High when you drove the big yellow bus. Especially memorable are the times you would “gun it” on the Alford Avenue hill. Man, that was more fun than an E ticket ride at Disney World. You know, I don’t recall that you received any phone calls from angry parents complaining about the safety of their children. Of course, the closest thing we had to “instant video’ was an 8mm camera, and not many kids carried those around. In our world today, images of poor little Billy bouncing off the ceiling in the back of the bus would be airing on channel 13 before we got home from school. I do miss those good old days.
— Thank you, Butch, for all the flights from the Shelby County airport, where we both worked for a while. I think we went to all the major airports in Alabama, along with several of the minor ones. I really enjoyed the night flight up to Birmingham and getting close enough to the Vulcan statue to shake his hand. I remember looking at all the lit up instruments on the plane’s panel and asking how you could glance at them and tell where you were. “I can’t,” you replied. “I’ll just look down and follow Hwy 31 back to Shelby County.” The possibility of heavy clouds crossed my mind, but I didn’t mention it.
— Thanks, Butch, for being my friend and my brother. I shall cherish the countless memories we made together. And thanks, Butch, for allowing me a few minutes to reminisce. God’s speed, my brother, and
BUIB,
Fluger
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Thank you for this update on Butch as of Thursday and for all time forward. Being ready to Be There is all that really matters in life. Sometimes this isn’t known until the time left for us is known. What you have shared about Butch reminds me a lot of Jackie D. I was back and forth to Atlanta frequently after my cornea and lens transplants and as fate (NO, Divine Providence) would have it, I had to be there three days back to back while Jack was in the hospital less than 15 minutes from the hotel where Dianne and I stayed. The second evening visit with Jack found him very uncomfortable ( handled with his nurse) and ready to go Home. Ours was a were special and tender conversation. I knew he knew the Way. No doubt about it. We each prayed and I left telling him I would see him in the morning as I was going by early before my appointment at 9:00am. I arrived at his room and a nurse was just finishing fluffing the pillow and placing it on the bed. She asked if she could help me and I said I had come to see Jack. He left the room earlier that morning and my last words to him rang in my ears. “I’ll See You In The Morning.”
If you know me well, you know how I love Southern Gospel Music (and Sacred Harp) and all I could hear was James Blackwood and the Blackwood Brothers!
BUIB
Coop
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What I remember about those days at Montevallo is when we got that pledge class that Butch was in.that was a tall a class. All those guys I had to look up to. Butch and I crossed paths several times during his career in health care, first with the Alabama Department of Health inspecting nursing homes and then running a nursing home and then on to Brewton for many years a doctors clinic. I visited him there and invited him to a reunion. He came for one day to Blue Water Bay and then did not see him for several years. After retiring in Fairhope. I ran into him in Piggly Wiggly and we exchanged numbers. We began talking and he came to a social with the guys. Butch joined a Bible study that Reg and I are in and we found out that he was a Man of God. Butch , with the help of his wife Briana. found the road that he wanted to travel. A week ago when talking to Butch and he telling me what he was facing said he knows the outcome of it , being with his Father in Heaven. Butch and his family are ok with what is next. Reg and I went to see him Thursday and talk to the family and spent a few minutes in prayer with Butch. He does not have much time left but he knows where he is going. Amen
Fred Crawford
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Brother:
I just wrote Butch and his family an email. He and I had many adventures at Montevallo and this news is hard. We all have hard times but Butch is a bright light in my memories and I wish him and his family Gods Love and Pease. As I do to all of you.
Devere
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I’m sure we all have great memories from times with Butch, but my favorite was the late night flights he would take and I got to tag along.
Darryl
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My favorite memory of Butch was when he and Roy Long were pledges & several of us took up a collection for them to go get a couple of kegs of beer for a party. Back then having or selling a keg of beer, well, that was illegal in Alabama. I remember giving them the collected $ and off they flew to Mississippi to make the purchase. I think several of us signed their paddles that day.
I was reminded of that adventure a couple of decades ago as I was introducing Roy to a group of alumni over at Davis Hall, now the music building. Roy had donated about $100,000 for a lab and musical instruments and computers with the software to help the students develop their musical skills. And in introducing him I mentioned what an accomplished pilot he was. He told me right after the event that he was sweating bullets he was afraid I was going to say something about that illegal bootlegging trip.
Paul Doran
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The last time I saw him was I think last year or the year before, I’m getting old. But he walked up to me and asked if I remembered him. I said “how could you ask me such a question, are you still quiet as hell”? He humbly said, “Pharo I’ve improved a little”. Bruce is correct, we must continue our gatherings. I will miss everyone this year. I’m becoming more and more aware of our mortality. Pharo
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Well said Larry, the years are going by quickly, seem faster than before. The brothers that have “gone on before” are adding up.
BUIB
Robert K. Rollins, Jr. CPCU, AAI
President, Beacon Group, Inc
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Pharo. You nailed it. One of the nicest gentlest souls ever. While I never got to fly with him, I do recall, Ronnie Jackson correct me if I’m off, he got the ATOs a gig washing airplanes at the airport. I hated him for that. All my deepest sincerest prayers for peace and comfort. Love him like The brother he is.
To all of you, a big BUIB. We are special.
Andy Ellis
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For Butch, Lightnin’, as Fluger so graciously named him, my remembrances of Butch revolve around his Pledge Class, which has a photo posted here. I had taken a part-time job in the summer when the owner of Shelby County Airport was to build a new taxi-way on the northeast side of the existing runway. I, at the time was working in the Student Union Building, bussing tables and cooking, to supplement my student loans to continue in school. It was Butch, as I recall who told me of a summer job, removing tree roots from the plowed soil, at an amazing $1.00 per hour. It was during this time I recall flying with Butch either to or from the airport. He may even have just been doing “touch & goes” for his license. A great experience flying, throwing tree roots on hot summer days, not so much. Thank you, Butch. Your life has touch so many people and I would imagine, many, many more than with the Sigma Social Club. I so appreciated you and your quiet demeanor, which in our group was an anomaly. I thought you and Terry Smith were refreshingly quiet. Love you, old Brother. Bill Gresham
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