Silver Beaver Scouter

Dad was involved in Scouting for much of his life, and had helped his four sons and two nephews achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.

In 1978, he was honored with the Silver Beaver award for his service in the Boy Scouts of America. This award is among the most prestigious given by the Boy Scouts, and recognition is granted by one's own peers in Scouting for distinguished service to youth.

It appears he was qualified!

As part of the nomination process the following recommendations and tributes were submitted in his behalf:

From his nephew, Charles Steven Butler:
"He is a proponent of an idea once expressed by philosopher John Stuart Mill. 'Men are men before they are doctors, lawyers or engineers; and, if they are good men, they will be good doctors, good lawyers and good engineers.' Lou Butler, however, takes this one step further. Boys are boys before they are men; and, if they are good boys, they will be good men. To this end, then, Lou Butler has dedicated his life and unselfishly given of his time and talents.

"I would at this time convey to you the recommendation of my father, Charles L. Butler. In life he had expressed to me a desire that his brother Louis E. Butler, be awarded the honor of the Silver Beaver, firmly believing that he deserved such honor in every respect. Therefore, in consonance with my father's wishes and my own judgment of an exceptional man, I do at this time strongly urget he bestowal of the honor of Silver Beaver upon Louis Edward Butler."

From his sons:

"We feel that our father deserves this award because of his service to boys, beginning with his sons and expanding to an outstanding scout troop, to the Fountain District, to the El Pueblo District, and to units in much of Southeastern Colorado. He has used the same leadership, which built a successful troop, to encourage scout leaders in a wide area to give quality service to thousands of boys. He has especially served in the areas of citizenship and moral development, building in all he encounters the importance of being true to God and country. He has continued to work in scouting long after his own sons have children of their own, having and spreading the philosophy that scouting is a lifetime activity worthy of every minute or penny spent participating in it."

A well deserved honor