OT: Local Legend Dies

Big Bob (Lyle) mentioned this fellow a couple of years ago. Even though he
wasn't a Studebaker fan
he was a local legend and someone that I looked up to when I was growing up
in Motron TX.

James (Jim) Butler aka "Mr Ford"
Obituary by his daughter Patsy Harris

James passed away on November 27, 2006 at the age of 84. James was
born in Ft. Cobb Ok on November 10, 1922 to Robert and Bertha Reed
Butler. He is survived by one brother, Lewis Butler of Levelland
Texas, two daughters, Evelyn Butler Cunningham and husband Bill
Cunningham of Ft. Stockton Tx, Patsy Butler Harris of
Fredericksburg, Tx, , five grandchildren, David Harris of San Saba
Tx, Ronald Harris of Brownwood Tx, Vickie Bradshaw, Beverly Ezell of
Ft. Stockton Tx, Amy Lightner of Monahans, 13 great grandchildren,
and 1 great great grandson. James was preceded in death by his wife
Inez Hallford Butler; parents Robert and Bertha Butler, five
brothers, Roy Dell, Glen, Melvin, Floyd, and Skinner; two sisters,
Arlie and Vida.

James and his wife Inez lived in Morton Tx until 1970 where they
owned a garage and wrecking yard. James and Inez moved to Graham
Texas in 1970, then in 1990 they moved to Lake Brownwood, and their
final move came in 1999 to Ft. Stockton Tx.

James had a great love for fast cars, and built and raced many hot
rods in his lifetime. James was widely known as "Mr. Ford". James
and Inez began their racing career on the circle track circuit in
1950. In the late 1950's James began drag racing on the quarter and
eighth mile tracks. Two of James most famous race cars were Rowdy
Willy which won the Top Ten In The World honors in 1960. James sold
Rowdy Willy to the Charioteer Drag Racing club in Hobbs NM and the
driver for the Charioteers was Lee Proctor of Odessa. Rowdy was in
a featured article in the fall 2004 edition of the Gasser magazine.
The last hot rod was a little Falcon Ranchero powered by a 289 cubic
inch engine. James won the World Championship at Green Valley in
1966 with Remember Me. Bryan Teal was the only man James felt was
worthy of driving his race cars, and was the official driver of
Remember Me. Dickey Harrell known as "Mr. Chevrolet" drove Remember
Me once on the eight mile track in Illinois, winning the
championship. Both Rowdy Willy and Remember Me held many world
records. In 1963 James built a 1963 Ford Falcon Sprint "Lil Red"
for the Morton Ford House which was never outrun.. until James
outrun it with his 1963 Ford Falcon 289 cubic inch rod "Remember
Me". The most famous winning races were when James won the
Nationals with "Rowdy Willy" and also with his tow car, a 1958 Ford
station wagon. Two years later he won the Nationals with "Rowdy
Willy" and also with his tow car a 1960 Ford Starliner. When James
lost his eyesight and retired from drag racing, he began a new
career of working on boat motors, this career lasted for 45 years.
There was never anything he could not do when he had an engine to
work on and tools in his hand until the day he passed from this
earth. I'm sure Daddy rode a hot rod to heaven.

Visitation will be in Morton Tx Wednesday at the Head Memorial
Funeral Home 309 N.E. 8th Street from 10 - 9 . Graveside services
for James Clinton Butler will be in the Enochs cemetery Thursday
November 30 at 10:30 am.


--
Loy Daniel
High Plains Chapter, SDC
http://clubs.hemmings.com/hpsdc  


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