George Byron Butler

BUTLER, GEORGE BYRON (1905~1953) George Byron Butler, Member of the Texas House of Representatives and Life Insurance Commissioner and Chairman of the Board of Insurance Commissioners of Texas, was born in Bryan, Texas on September 2, 1905. His parents were George B. Butler, a Baptist preacher, and Susie Peale Butler, Superintendent of the Confederate Women's Home in Austin and also buried in the Texas State Cemetery. Growing up in Bryan, Butler attended Allen Academy and graduated from Louisiana State College at Pineville. He also attended the University of Texas School of Law, where he received his license in 1932. Shortly after receiving his law degree, Butler ran for and won a seat in the Texas House of Representatives from Brazos County. He served in both the 43rd and 44th Legislatures, after which he became the executive director of the Texas Telephone Association in Austin. During World War II, Butler served as regional director of the War Production Board for several Southwestern states. At the time of his death, he was serving as an ex officio member of the Board of the Teacher Retirement, and as a member of the board of the State Employees Retirement System. Governor Coke R. Stevenson, in 1945, appointed Butler as Life Insurance Commissioner and Chairman of the Board of Insurance Commissioners. Governor Allan Shivers reappointed him in 1949. Butler was also active in the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and a member of the Life Insurance Committee of the American Bar Association. Prior to his death, Butler had spent his last five weeks at the Scott and White Hospital in Temple, due to a spinal disorder that became malignant. He passed away September 28, 1953, at age 48, and was buried in the Texas State Cemetery two days later. Information taken from articles in the Austin American-Statesman and death certificate.