Gary Clyde Butler

Gary Clyde Butler, 76, passed away at his home in Sarasota, FL on Monday, April 10, 2023. Gary, the son of Clyde Spinks and Emily McNeal Butler, and older brother to Glenn and Douglas, was born on October 31, 1946. He attended Briarcliff High School in Atlanta, later earning a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering from The Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration from The University of Georgia.

In December of 1969, Gary and Nell Alfriend, of Sparta, GA, began their thirty-year marriage. In 1975, Gary took his first position at Automatic Data Processing (ADP). Beginning as an Outside Sales Representative, Gary built a distinguished career over a nearly four-decade-long tenure with the company. He rose through the ranks to hold increasing leadership positions, ultimately becoming CEO in 2006 until his retirement in 2011. He loved ADP and was deeply committed to the business and its people. He was especially proud of ADP's global expansion under his direction and was fueled by the complexity of work and relationships that it required. Gary was known for his untenable, yet incredible, knack for rooting out an issue within seconds and was highly regarded for his tenacity, unflinching viewpoints, and superb intelligence. While he expected much of those who worked with him, he also delighted in their success and was regarded as a great mentor and friend.

In addition to Gary's executive leadership at ADP, he served on various corporate boards, including Liberty Mutual Group, DeVry, Inc., CIT Group, and Convergys Corporation.

Pursuant to his success, Gary established The Gary C. Butler Family Foundation and gave his time, intellect and resources to a multitude of non-profits. Of great pride to Gary were his efforts supporting land conservation through Ducks Unlimited, and funding a professor Chair in the Industrial and Systems Engineering School at Georgia Tech.

Outside of his work life, Gary had three great loves - bird hunting, red wine and family. Every Fall and Winter, Gary could be found in any one of his favorite hunting spots -Turkey Hill in South Carolina, the rice fields of Arkansas, farmlands of Saskatchewan, Diamond Dot Ranch in South Dakota, or the hills of Montana. Here Gary found immense satisfaction and camaraderie in sharing his love for the land and sport with family and friends. Equal to his passion for hunting, was his love for red wine. Many reading this will recall memorable wine trips with Gary to Napa and Bordeaux, boisterous wine tasting dinners, and his generosity of "knock your socks off" wines from his private cellar. Sharing of his passions was one of his life's greatest pleasures.

As for his family, Gary leaves behind his great love, Elizabeth, with whom he shared the last ten years of his life; his son, Paul Ira Butler and wife Molly of Mt. Pleasant, SC; his daughter Claire Butler DeLong and husband Joe, of Summit, NJ; and his nephew Tyler Butler of Atlanta, GA. Gary is also survived by his seven grandchildren, who knew him as their 'Grandpa' and whom he loved fiercely: Abigail, Emily and Jack Butler; Ben, Madeline, Mary and Cate DeLong. And of course, Parker, his last of a long line of Brittany Spaniel companions.

Gary took great pride in his family and was a giant in our eyes. His high standards and seemingly all-encompassing knowledge have left an indelible print on our lives, and a legacy of success and generosity that will be known for generations. Despite his tough and sometimes immovable exterior, the depth and breadth of Gary's love was never in doubt. He will always be remembered for the steadfast ways he showed his love, his unwavering belief in our capabilities, and his astoundingly warm heart that fueled his determined footsteps.

Arrangements are being made for a celebration of Gary's life, with details forthcoming. Should you wish to send condolences, please send a donation in his name to any one of the following organizations in which he was involved:

The Georgia Institute of Technology (GA Tech)

High Country Charitable Foundation

Humane Society of Sarasota County

All Star Children's Foundation

Wetlands America Trust and Ducks Unlimited