James Kenneth Butler, Jr. of Raleigh passed away Sunday, August 21, 2011. He was born June 25, 1923, in Windsor, North Carolina, the eldest child of James Kenneth Butler and Dayloe Joyner Butler. He grew up in Bertie County, on a family farm, and always cherished his rural roots. His farm background greatly influenced his life, leading to his career in agricultural and livestock related areas as well as a lifelong love of hunting and fishing.

Mr. Butler entered the United States Army in 1944, and served with L Company of the 383rd Regiment 96th Infantry Division in the Battle of Okinawa, receiving the Purple Heart. Following discharge, he returned to N.C. State College, graduating in 1949 with a B.S. degree in Animal Industry. He then joined the Agricultural Extension Service as the Livestock and Boys' 4-H agent for Perquimans County

Mr. Butler returned to N.C. State as a graduate student and received his M.S. degree in Animal Science in 1955. His research during this time involved some of the earliest use of antibiotics as a growth stimulant in swine. He joined Gwaltney, Inc. of Smithfield, VA, in 1957, as livestock field manager and later as manager of the livestock department.

In 1965, Mr. Butler returned to Raleigh as the first Executive Secretary of the N.C. Pork Producers Association. In this position he worked with pork promotion programs through grocery stores, meat packers, educational meetings, radio, and television. From 1971 to 1975 he worked for Cloverleaf Farms as sales and plant manager for Andy Griffith Country Hams.

He rejoined N.C. State University in 1975, as Livestock Specialist for 4-H Meat Animal Activities. In this position he worked with junior livestock shows, State Fair shows, and beef cattle, hog, and sheep projects. He coached livestock judging teams from the county to the national levels, and mentored hundreds of young people. During his tenure, youth livestock activities, and general industry support for those activities, increased substantially. He retired from the University in 1988.

The many honors he received included induction into the Animal Science Club Hall of Fame, the N.C. State Fair Hall of Fame, and the N.C. Pork Producers Hall of Fame. He was awarded the Outstanding Alumni Award, the Agricultural Leadership Award, and Brother of the Century Award by Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. He received the Alpha Zeta Outstanding Alumni Award, as well as the Outstanding Extension Award. Following his retirement from N.C. State, Mr. Butler established the Jim Butler Livestock Judging Endowment.

Mr. Butler was predeceased by his parents, his brother Elmo J. Butler, and sister-in-law, Joyce C. Butler, and brother-in-laws William F. Pritchard, Graham Corbett, Morris Kornegay, and Harvey C. Allen. He is survived by his wife, Lillian Swinson Butler; their son James Kenneth Butler, III, of Raleigh; their daughter Barbara Butler Comyn and her husband Patrick Comyn, of Madison, VA; sisters Margaret Butler Pritchard, Betty Butler Jernigan and her husband Milton Jernigan; sister-in-laws Evelyn S. Corbett, Dolly S. Kornegay, and Thelma S. Allen; grandchildren Caroline Alaire Comyn and Daniel James Patrick Comyn; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the doctors and staff of Capital Nephrology Associates, and Capital Heart Associates for their excellent care during Mr. Butler's illness. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to either the Ridge Road Baptist Church, where Mr. Butler was a long-time member, or the Jim Butler 4-H Livestock Judging Endowment. Donations to the endowment can be sent to N.C. 4-H Development Fund, Campus Box 7645, N.C. State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, or by visiting the giving section of the N.C. State College of Agriculture and Life Science website.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m., Thursday, August 25, 2011, at the Ridge Road Baptist Church, 2011 Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC 27607. A reception will be held at the church Fellowship Hall from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., with a private interment to follow immediately thereafter. Condolences can be sent to the family at www.brownwynne.com.