Our Namesake

Arlee E. Butler, Sr.: A Lifetime of Dedication

Arlee E. Butler, Sr. (1915–2007) was a lifelong resident and pillar of the Quinlan community whose 37 years of service on the QISD school board helped shape the district for generations. His enduring commitment to the children and schools of Quinlan is honored through the naming of Butler Intermediate School.

Educational Leadership and Service

Mr. Butler’s primary contribution to the district was his unwavering leadership on the board of trustees, providing a steady hand through decades of growth.

• Board Tenure: He served on the QISD school board for 37 dedicated years.
• Distinguished Honor: His retirement coincided with the formation of the district’s intermediate school, which was named in his honor to recognize his lifetime of service.
• Hall of Fame: In recognition of his vast contributions to the community and school system, he was inducted into the 2009 QISD Hall of Fame.

Professional and Personal Journey

A man of diverse skills and a strong work ethic, Mr. Butler's life reflected the resilience and history of the Quinlan area:

• Early Years: Born on August 16, 1915, in the String Town Community, he attended String Town and Payne Store Schools before graduating from Quinlan High School in 1935.
• Historical Work: Following graduation, he worked on the iconic Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
• Military and War Effort: During World War II, he worked at a shipyard in Richmond, California, and later served in the Merchant Marines repairing Liberty Ships.
• Business and Banking: After the war, he returned to Quinlan and eventually joined the Quinlan State Bank as a teller. His dedication led him to be promoted to Vice President and eventually President, a position he held until his retirement in 1980.

Community and Civic Impact

Mr. Butler was "always a rancher at heart," but his influence extended into the physical development of the county:

• Infrastructure: In the 1950s, he worked for Hunt County and McKinney Highway Construction to build many of the area's first farm-to-market roads.
• Local Business: He owned and operated the Mobile Station on Main Street in Quinlan, where his wife and children worked alongside him.
• Farming Heritage: He spent much of his life farming and ranching on land he purchased with money earned at the shipyards, eventually expanding his holdings to a 183-acre ranch.

Family and Personal Life

Arlee married Nancy Christine Robinson in 1935, and they were blessed with 67 years of marriage. They raised two children, Nancy and Wendell, and Mr. Butler remained an active rancher until 2001.

Butler Intermediate School was formed and was named in his honor for thirty-seven years of dedicated service on the QISD school board in 1980. The new Butler school was completed in 2003.