Ollie Butler Jr. passes  

I've lost friends that were around my age many times in my life. Some when I was younger, some older, but this is the first that I've lost at this point in my life that I grew up with. Besides the racing connection, our family was friends with all the Butlers going back to the sixties. I lettered a bunch of cars for almost all of them, plus I spent time helping on their crews in the early eighties at Nazareth. Spent a lot of time at their house/garage. I remember once we pulled an all nighter to change an engine, their Mom Pat came out to the garage in the morning and was surprised I was there that early. I said I never went home! Back when they ran street stocks, you would cut the cage out and reuse it. Me, Ollie and Rich Robbins spent Memorial Day listening to the Indy 500, while gutting a Chevelle in preparation for racing. Great memories. Ollie didn't race all that long compared to the rest, instead concentrated on starting his family. But racing was always there. Over the last 30 years or so, we became even closer as my stepbrother Chuck was/is best friends with Ollie, so we saw each other at family events. Over the last couple years with Ollie's increasing health issues, we saw each other more often. Ollie faced his situation with more dignity and grace than any person I ever met. I've included a few pictures, he and his lovely wife Paula at their recent 35th anniversary, plus a couple of him and his brother Clay. RIP Ollie, it's been a great ride with you! Rest easy pal.