Dr. William R. Butler, who with his wife, Virginia, have four children and four grandchildren and live in the Village of Palmetto Bay, retired in 1997 after a 50-year career in education encompassing four universities — the University of Kansas; University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Ohio University, and the University of Miami, where he spent the last 32 years.
Butler’s book, Embracing the World, relates the history of the University of Miami, chartered in 1925, from its temporary “Cardboard College” to the present institution of international acclaim.
Butler recently visited the Palmetto Bay branch library to bring a copy of the book for the collection, presenting it to the library’s manager, Miriam Quiros-Laso, joined by long time friend Councilmember Patrick Fiore.
From 1965 to 1997, Butler held the positions of vice president for Student Affairs and professor of education at the University of Miami. He wrote his book with the story style of an educator with five decades in public and private universities.
Dr. Butler served in the Philippine Liberation and Asiatic Pacific Area in the U.S. Navy during World War II and later earned two degrees in education and psychology from Ohio University and a doctorate in counseling psychology from the University of Kansas.
When Dr. Butler retired, the University of Miami named the Student Volunteer Center in his honor. Student leaders have since created an endowment for the center to support the activities and programs of student volunteers who have dedicated their time and talent to help Miami’s inner-community’s less fortunate.
The Butlers have resolved that all sales and/or donations for his book, Embracing the World, are to be contributed to the University of Miami’s Volunteer Center’s endowment which supports the William R. Butler Center for Volunteer Service and Leadership Development.
