Norman Frank Butler

Norman Butler (December 2, 1918 – October 8, 2011), was a polo player, Thoroughbred breeder and industrialist.^[1]

Norman Butler and step mother Mrs Paul Butler, Palm Beach 1945

Butler Family biography

The Butler family can trace its ancestry to Rollo the Viking. The Butler family name comes from the Norman Botelere, as they would serve the wine to the nobility. During the Norman conquest of 1066, they were granted large amounts of land in England and Ireland for services rendered. As members of the Fitz Walter clan, their descendants included Rollo first Duke of Normandy, Gislebert, the Earl of Eu and later on William the Conqueror and Kings Of England Henry 1st and Henry 2nd. Descendants of the Butler's include Anne Boleyn, daughter of Thomas Boleyn, whose mother was a Butler and married to the Duke of Ormond.

As Dukes of Ormonde, the Butler family had a hugely influential role on Irish politics, most notably under James Butler,1st Duke of Ormonde, a close friend and minister of King Charles II of England, and later Chief Protector of Ireland.

The Butler's divided into several branches, the most notable ones residing in Ireland, England, the de Butler's of France and the United States.

In 1844, Julius W. Butler founded the J. W. Butler Paper Company in St. Charles, Illinois.^[2] The family from the success of the Butler paper company, would in the next century diversify into aviation, ranching and real estate. The Butler Paper Company had previously been the first suppliers of paper to the newly formed United States Congress.

By the mid-20th century the Butler company was one of the most successful and richest private companies in America. The Butler Paper company supplied paper all over the world, Butler Aviation was the largest private aviation company in America and the Butler family real estate holdings included the village of Oak Brook, Illinois and several large cattle ranches throughout America.^[3]

The Butler family was also a major force in polo, owning 13 polo fields in Oak Brook, Illinois and hosting tournaments there until the present day.^[4] The Butler family also owned the Butler National Golf Club in Oak Brook, which hosted the PGA Western Open from 1974 until 1990.

Norman Butler, Kilboy Estate, Ireland

Early life

Norman Butler was born to industrialist Paul Butler and Sarah Anne Rooney of Ireland. His grandfather Frank Osgood Butler and father Paul Butler were prominent American industrialists and founders of Oak Brook Village, Illinois.^[5] He was born in New York City in 1918. He attended Hodder preparatory school and Stonyhurst College in Lancashire, England. He later studied Modern Greats at Oriel College, Oxford University.

In 1941 he joined the U.S. Navy, where he served as a bomber pilot in the South Atlantic attached to squadron VB-107, which sank the most U-Boats of any unit serving in the South Atlantic. As a Lt. officer he served until 1945, winning the Bronze Star, Air Medal and the Presidential Unit Citation.

In 1948 he married Pauline Winn, daughter of Lady Baillie and Sir Gawaine Baillie, of Leeds Castle in Kent. They had two children together, Sandra Butler (born 1949) and Paget Butler (born 1953). They divorced in 1958.

From 1948 until 1960 he worked as a director in the Butler Paper and Butler Aviation companies, and Butler S.A. (South America).

It was also during this time that he played polo in the United States, England and South America.

In 1959 he married his second wife Penelope Dewar, daughter of Lord Forteviot, owner of Dewar Whiskies in Scotland. They had three children together, Paul Butler (born 1960), Tracey Penelope Butler (born 1961) and Sean Butler (born 1963). They divorced in 1977.

In 1981 he married his third wife Baroness Gabriella Groger von Sontag, fashion editor of German Vogue, daughter of Kurt Groger, a German banker and Director of the Dresdner Bank. They had one son, Patrick de Butler (born 1986).

Thoroughbred racing

In 1960 he bought Kilboy Estate in County Tipperary, Ireland. As a Thoroughbred breeder in 1972 he won the classic Irish 1,000 Guineas and the Irish St. Ledger with his famous horse Pidget, trained by Kevin Prendergast and ridden by the jockey T. P. Burns. He also worked with Vincent O'Brien and Walter Swinburn among many others during his time as a Thoroughbred breeder.

He later sold Kilboy Estate to Tony Ryan, founder of Ryanair.

He died at his home in Beverly Hills, California, on October 8, 2011.

References

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