By Ralphine Major

Butler has been a prominent name in the Gibbs Community for many years.  Their name was associated with a landmark of the community.

The sixth starter’s father, Bill Butler, owned a neighborhood grocery store at the corner of Tazewell Pike and Barker Road.  Beside it was Leroy Hutchison’s barber shop.  It was the perfect place for folks to stop in and catch up on neighborhood news.  There were no cell phones or computers in those days.  I can only imagine the times talk turned to basketball, especially with Butler’s son playing for Dagley’s ‘64-65 Eagles.  The community was proud of its Eagles and their amazing 31-2 record back then.  They are just as proud of them today—fifty years later.

Butler served in the United States Navy.   He has been married to the former Shirley Blankenship for 42 years.  Stanley is retired from the construction business, and Shirley is retiring from the Department of Veterans Affairs in June after 44 years of service.  They are members of Graveston Baptist Church in Corryton.  The Butlers have a son, Jordan, one daughter, Niki Davis whose husband is Vernon, and three grandchildren:  Steel, Roman, and Sasha.

The sixth starter has as much praise for former Gibbs Eagles Coach Bob Dagley as Dagley did for him.  “Coach Dagley was one of the best coaches I had.  He was very patient with his players,” Butler said.  He punctuated his comment with three words that sum it all up—”a good coach.”  I think the sixth starter nailed it!  (This is No. 29 in the Gibbs Eagles series.)