Former National Chicken Council Chairman of the Board Clifford Ernest Butler of Mount Pleasant, Texas died yesterday at his home. He served as NCC chairman from 2001-2002. He was 73.
Butler was employed 40 years in various executive positions ultimately retiring as vice chairman of the board at Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation serving as an important part of their initial public offering and overseeing their mergers, acquisitions, and government relations. He retired from Pilgrim’s in 2007. Following his retirement he sold real estate and ran a consulting firm.
As a private pilot, he volunteered for Angel Flight providing free air transportation to those in need of medical care and was very active in community and civic affairs including Kiwanis Club and the Masons. A member of Trinity Baptist Church, Cliff functioned as a deacon, Bible study teacher, and choir member. He served on the boards of Pilgrim Bank, Titus County Cares, Titus Regional Medical Center Foundation, and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.
He is survived by his wife, who Cliff was married to for 53 years, Mariguinn Williams Butler, of Mount Pleasant, and his brother, Lynch and Kathy Butler of Siloam Springs, Arkansas. He is also survived by his children, Shannon and Kathryn Butler of Greenwood, South Carolina; Shane and Gina Butler of Flint; Sara and Robert Hughes of Murphy; Suzy and John Whitten of Mount Pleasant; and including eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be at Bates-Cooper-Sloan Funeral Home in Mount Pleasant, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. today, August 21, 2015. Services will be held at Trinity Baptist Church at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 22. Interment will be at Providence Cemetery in Mount Vernon. Memorial donations may be made to Trinity Baptist Church
