Mr. Joseph Harold Butler Jr. was a building service worker at La Plata High School. He died on Thursday, July 10, 2014. Mr. Butler was born on April 15, 1966. He grew up in southern Maryland and graduated from La Plata in 1984. Shortly after graduating from La Plata, he worked as a security guard at the Swan Point Marina and then returned to La Plata High School to begin his 29-year career as a building service worker under the direction of Mr. J. Earl Swann.
He was known to those who loved him as “Big Joe.” Some of his favorite things were spending time with family, golfing, bowling and drag racing. He would often take his wife, Danielle, on long rides while listening to his favorite jazz, which his family often refers to as “his elevator music.” He loved a good home-cooked meal while relaxing with his family and friends, recounting each other’s stories.
He was a happy, genuine person and a hard worker. He loved La Plata and is an irreplaceable part of the school staff.
Mr. Swann remembers him for his humor and his presence. “I guess one of the biggest words that we always used to describe Joe was ‘big smile’. He’s always smiling and laughing, and that deep voice that he had; everybody loved him.” He constantly brightened the lives of others by greeting them with a smile and hello each morning.
“He was always upbeat, always happy, always willing to do anything that we asked; he was a critical part of school,” said La Plata principal Mrs. Lynne Arnold. “He’s missed every day. I just looked forward to his greeting; he had a very deep, rich voice. He always asked how things were going, how I was doing, and we would always stop and talk in the morning, so I miss those.”
Butler was dedicated to the school and to his job and often went out of his way to help students and fellow faculty members. “He didn’t mind doing whatever he needed to do,” Mr. Swann said. “He loved the school.”
He was an invaluable member of the La Plata faculty, and his death has left a large dent in the school building service department. “I haven’t been able to replace him, I know I never will be able to, but now it’s a position that’s been open and probably always will be,” Mr. Swann said.
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