Norman Butler (polo)
Norman Butler | |
|---|---|
 Norman F. P. Butler, US Navy 1945 | |
| Born | December 2, 1918 |
| Died | October 8, 2011 (aged 92) |
| Education | Oriel College, Oxford |
| Occupation(s) | Polo player, horse breeder |
| Spouses | Pauline Winn
(m. 1948; div. 1958)Penelope Dewar
(m. 1959; div. 1977)Gabriella Gröger (m. 1981) |
| Children | 6 |
| Parent |
|
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | Navy |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | Squadron VB-107 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Air Medal, Bronze Star and Presidential Unit Citation |
Norman Frank Paul Butler (December 2, 1918 – October 8, 2011) was an American polo player and thoroughbred breeder.
Early life and education[edit]
Norman Frank Paul Butler was born in New York City to Paul Butler[1][2] and Sarah Anne Josephine (née Rooney).[3][4] The Butler family founded Butler Paper in Chicago in 1841,[1][2] and Butler Aviation in 1945,[1][2] as well as the village of Oak Brook, Illinois[1] including the Oak Brook Polo Club in 1922[5] and Butler National Golf Club in 1972.[6]
He attended Hodder preparatory school, Downside School and Stonyhurst College in Lancashire, England. He later studied Modern Greats at Oriel College, Oxford University.[7][8]
During WW2 he served as a Lieutenant (USNR) with Squadron VB-107, which was based in Natal, Brazil and Ascension Island.[9] He was decorated three times, with the Air Medal, Bronze Star and Presidential Unit Citation.[7]
Career[edit]
From 1948 until 1960 he worked in England as a director in the Butler Paper and Butler Aviation companies, and Butler S.A. (South America).[10] It was also during this time that he played polo in England, South America and the United States.[10]
In 1960 he bought Kilboy House in County Tipperary, Ireland.[11] As a thoroughbred breeder in 1972 he won the classic Irish 1,000 Guineas and the Irish St. Leger as well as the Pretty Polly Stakes with his horse Pidget, trained by Kevin Prendergast and ridden by the jockeys T. P. Burns and Wally Swinburn. His horses raced in Ireland, England and France. He also worked with Vincent O'Brien and John Magnier among others.[12] He later sold Kilboy House to Tony Ryan, founder of Ryanair.[13]
Personal life[edit]
In 1948 he married Pauline Winn, daughter of Lady Baillie and the Hon. Charles John Frederick Winn (son of Rowland Winn, 2nd Baron St Oswald), of Leeds Castle in Kent.[14] They had two children together.[15][7] They divorced in 1958.
In 1959 he married his second wife, the Hon. Penelope Dewar, daughter of Lord Forteviot, owner of Dewar Whiskies in Scotland.[16][17] They had three children together.[7] They divorced in 1977.
In 1981 he married his third wife Baroness Gabriella Gröger von Sontag, fashion editor of German Vogue, daughter of a German banker and Director of the Dresdner Bank.[7][10] They had one son together.[18][7]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "Paul Butler Dead at 89; Top Aviation Executive". The New York Times. 1981-06-26. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
- ^ a b c "Paul Butler -- founder of Butler Aviation, the nation's..." UPI. 1981-06-25.
- ^ Who's Who, What's What and Where in Ireland, Zircon Publishing, 1973, p. 45
- ^ https://classicchicagomagazine.com/the-butlers-of-oak-brook-two/
- ^ "Heritage". Oak Brook Polo Club.
- ^ Winakor, Bess (1983-01-09). "The Butlers: Old family traces roots from colonies to PB Polo". Palm Beach Daily News. Palm Beach, Florida, USA. p. 13 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f "BUTLER, NORMAN FRANK". New York Times. 2011-10-11. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
- ^ "President Roosevelt Sets Sail For US 1940". RTE. 2020-06-01.
- ^ "VP-107 History". VP Navy.
- ^ a b c Whitfield, Kay. "The Butlers of Oak Brook, Six". Classic Chicago Magazine. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
- ^ "Huge blaze at home of airline founder's son but extensive art collection saved". Independent.ie. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
- ^ "KEVIN PRENDERGAST Three of the best". thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
- ^ https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/huge-blaze-at-home-of-airline-founders-son-but-extensive-art-collection-saved/25993481.html
- ^ Rief, Rita (16 November 1984). "AUCTIONS; The Cave collection". Retrieved 16 January 2019 – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ "Sandra Butler and T. J. Heise Plan Nuptials April 8 on L.I." New York Times. 1972-02-20. p. 73.
- ^ "Marriage plans still secret". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. 1959-06-12. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
- ^ "Miss Dewar Bride Of Norman Butler". 1959-06-12. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
- ^ "Butler II, Frank Osgood". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois, USA. 2014-08-31. p. 28 – via newspapers.com.