His father died saving the family from a house fire. His mission: Protect Dad’s legacy
“Living Legacy,” is tattooed on the inner biceps of Charlotte native David J. Butler. The words serve as a permanent reminder of his father, the late David W. Butler Jr., and the work needed to keep his legacy alive.
If the name David W. Butler Jr. sounds familiar, it’s probably because he is the namesake for Charlotte’s Butler High School in East Charlotte.
The elder Butler, a longtime educator and coach for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, passed away on Jan. 7, 1997, in a house fire. An older baseboard heater in the family’s East Charlotte home began to spark, causing the couch to catch fire in the middle of the night.
“My dad was the first one to wake up that night,” David J. Butler, now 29, told CharlotteFive. “He woke up and instructed my mom, sister and I on how to get out of the house while he stayed behind to call 911.”
While attempting to call the fire department, the elder Butler realized the door closest to the phone was deadbolted from the inside. He needed to unlock it, but the key was too far out of reach and the flames had taken over. Butler’s wife, April Butler-McConneaughey, daughter Candace Butler and son made it out safely. Unfortunately, David W. Butler Jr. did not.
Each surviving member of the Butler family was permanently scarred forever, reminding them of that tragic night.
The legacy of David W. Butler Jr.
An outpouring of support from the community flooded in soon after his passing. Students, teachers and school staff from around the area were heartbroken over the news that a man who made such a lasting impact on so many was no longer here.
Butler worked as a math teacher and athletic director at Piedmont Middle School for several years. He would eventually transfer to West Charlotte High School so that he could transition with a group of students who asked him to teach them in high school, as well.
“I’ve heard stories on how students would call our house in the evenings to have my dad help them with their homework, and he would do so willingly. As an adult, I’ve run into my father’s former students, and when they make the connection with the name, they are moved to tears.”
What makes this time period unique is that it was also the year that CMS would open two new high schools for the 1997-1998 school year — Vance High and Butler High.
A group of parents, along with the elder Butler’s mentee, Don Daniels, came together to petition the school board to rename what would have been Centennial High to David W. Butler High, in honor of this great educator.
With only months to spare before the new school year, CMS welcomed the name change.
The entire Butler family is filled with educators. Butler’s paternal grandparents, aunt, mother and sister have all worked in the education sector at some point.
Despite education running so deep in his bloodline, the younger Butler was set on not going into the field once he was older.
“I was set on not being an educator,” he said. “I found my calling in business after going through the Junior Achievement program in high school.”
David J. Butler would carry that passion for business into his college years, where he attended Winston Salem State University. He not only majored in business, but became president of a business fraternity, as well as student body president.
His role as WSSU’s student body president would lead him to advocate for state university students on the state level, which was his first real segway into the world of education.
Continuing the Butler legacy his way
After moving back to Charlotte after college, the younger Butler took a job with Coca Cola, but he knew that wasn’t where he was meant to be. He stepped out on faith and started his first company, The Featherbed, an independent creative consulting firm. He merged his knack for business with his newfound skill and passion, photography, to help businesses and brands get their start.
He would go on to connect with filmmaker Devon Smith for a documentary titled Creative NC. After seeing the success of the film, the two men partnered to start another brand, Proper Context (formerly A Way Of Life).
Through this joint venture, the younger Butler and Smith developed a career readiness curriculum that helps middle and high school students discover their passions and go on to find jobs or create sustainable businesses from them.
The curriculum is currently being piloted in a school in Boston, and they are looking to expand it to other charter schools nationally.
“I found my way into education by creating my own path, while connecting to my father’s, as well as my family’s, legacy,” Butler said. “I may not be a traditional teacher, but I’m pushing for education reform and pushing today’s youth toward finding their passions.”
David J. Butler’s dream is to one day become an art professor on the university level, after obtaining his masters in fine arts.
Locally, he is one of the co-founders of Hue House, where he works alongside Davita Galloway and Dae-Lee Arrington. This creative agency educates creatives in and around Charlotte on building a sustainable brand while also serving as a resource to those with similar interests.
Strengthening the ties with Butler High School
This year, Butler High hired its first Black male principal, Vincent Golden. The symbolism of having the school named after a Black educator while also having a Black male leader has ignited Butler to strengthen his connection to the school.
“The school has been a part of my life since I was almost 6. I didn’t understand what it meant while I was young, but now that I am approaching 30, I can fully appreciate it and I have perspective on what it all means.”
Each year, the Butler family appears at the school’s annual Senior Night and presents a graduating senior with the David W. Butler Jr. award. Over the years, the younger Butler has been able to build a small connection with students and faculty, but he’s ready to do more.
He is taking the lead on building his family’s connection with the school and school’s faculty. He wants to make more interpersonal relationships with the students, beyond the senior night awards and attending graduation.
“Butler High is an excellent school that produces students who go on to prestigious colleges and universities across the nation,” he said. “I want to continue to uphold the legacy of the school, so that it lives up to my father’s name — because that resonates with the excellence of his work.”
Correction: Vance and Butler high schools both opened in 1997. Hopewell and Waddell high schools opened in 2001. CMS has schools named after the following Black educators: Walter G. Byers, E.E. Waddell, J.T. Williams, Marie G. Davis and J.H. Gunn. A previous version of this story was incorrect.
This story was originally published August 27, 2020 at 9:25 AM.
