William L. Butt 1923-2007

BUTT, HANSON, CONZETT

Posted By: J. Nicks (email)
Date: 12/28/2007 at 15:00:31

Telegraph Herald
Dubuque, Iowa
Thursday December 27, 2007

William L. Butt 1923-2007

William L. Butt, 84, of 165 S. Grandview Ave., died Monday, Dec. 24, 2007, at home.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Nativity Catholic Church, with the Rev. Dwayne Thoman officiating. Burial will be in the family plot at Mount Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call after 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the church. The Hoffmann-Schneider Funeral Home, 1640 Main St., is in charge of arrangements.

He was born on Jan. 27, 1923, in Dubuque, son of Elmer and Virginia (Hanson) Butt. He was the fourth of 10 children.

His great-grandfather manufactured wagons in 1852. After he died in 1873, the business became known as John Butt Brothers Wagon Factory. It manufactured wagons and sleighs until 1932. Bill's maternal grandfather, William Matthew Hanson, was one of Dubuque's most prosperous businessmen and real estate owners. He established W.M. Hanson & Sons in 1886, and the Dubuque Fruit Co. in 1916. He died on Dec. 17, 1924, at home at 1637 Iowa St., at the time one of the finest homes in Dubuque.

Bill graduated from Dubuque Senior High School in 1941. He moved to California in 1942 and worked as a welder in the ship yards. He worked the midnight shift and attended the University of California at Berkeley during the day.

He returned to Dubuque in 1944 to be called into service of our country. Before leaving for the service, he married Aileen "Connie" Conzett.
He was stationed with the 8th Army in Japan, quickly rising to the rank of 1st Sergeant. He modestly explained his promotions by saying, "I could type." He was discharged in 1947, and began work for Otis Elevator Co. in Dubuque and Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

In October 1952, Otis Elevator transferred Bill to Texarkana, Texas/Arkansas as local representative. He became involved with the Texarkana Model Railroad Club located in Texarkana's Union Station. Bill designed and built an O Gauge Layout with more than 1,000 feet of track and three main lines. He wired the system to progressive cab control operation. He designed controls, a power supply system from a surplus aircraft 24-volt generator, an operator control panel and then wired the layout with more than 10,000 feet of wiring. In 1958, Bill was transferred to Wichita, Kan., as a branch manager. He attended the University of Wichita at night for four years. In 1965, Otis transferred Bill to Shreveport, La., as manager. In 1969, he was promoted to district service manager in Kansas City, Kan. In 1972, he moved to Dallas, Texas, as district service manager. Shortly thereafter, Bill was promoted to regional service sales manager over the Southwestern United States, consisting of 10 states with 40 offices. He managed all national accounts headquartered in his region, including Neiman Marcus and other nationally recognized names. He retired from Otis on March 1, 1983.

Bill and his wife, Connie, moved to the San Antonio, Texas, area in 1985 and lived in Scenic Hills at the Northcliffe Country Club Golf Course. In 1990, Bill, the club pro, and four club members purchased the Northcliffe Country Club. They sold the club in 1996.

Bill's wife of 49 years, Connie, died in 1993 and is buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Dubuque. Following Connie's death, Bill moved back to Dubuque in 1995. He built his home at 165 S. Grandview Ave., where he lived until his death.