Brookley Rush and Ruby Salyer Butcher

    West Virginia
    2025
    Deceased

    County 4-H Extension Professional and 4-H Volunteers

    Summersville, WV

    The Butchers were transformative leaders. Rush is widely acclaimed as the first person in the nation to establish “Youth Opportunity Camps” for disadvantaged youths when most Extension staff were not working with this population.

    In addition to 2 weeks of traditional 4-H camps, they launched 7-8 weeks of county theme camps (i.e., science, dance, arts, opportunity) that reached more than 40,000 youths. They also established these camps at the state level that reached about 9,000 youths. W.Va. Heritage Weekends engaged about 2,000 youths and adults.

    The Butchers, through the Ruritans, spearheaded a fund-raising campaign and provided leadership for the development of a community center that was equipped as an American Red Cross Disaster Station.

    They established a county 4-H foundation that still exists and were significantly involved in fund-raising for and the physical development of Nicholas County Memorial Park, where they conducted 4-H camps. Rush and Ruby supported youths participating in several 4-H contests who received trips to state and national 4-H events. The Butchers mentored hundreds of W.Va. Extension staff as well as youths. Highly regarded in W.Va, the Butchers were sought after to mentor new and experienced professionals. Few Extension professionals were more respected than they.

    Quote

    “Outside my family, no other individuals had a greater impact on my formative years. I am most grateful and forever indebted to their example.”

    John E. Dooley, Ph.D., State 4-H Director and University Vice-President, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Ret.)

    My 4-H Story

    Brookley Rush Butcher and wife, Ruby (both deceased) are living legends in West Virginia (W.Va.) and beyond. While Rush was the paid 4-H professional, Ruby was so significantly engaged in Extension work that people thought they got “two for the price of one.” Together, they dedicated 60 years of servant leadership to W.Va. youths, families, and communities. To them, working for Extension was not just a job, but the focus of the Butcher family. Each family member was totally invested in the four-fold life. Nicholas County, in which the Butchers served, has a population of just over 24,000 and a median income of about $43,000. These demographics make the accomplishments of Rush and Ruby Butcher truly amazing.

    Because the Butchers raised the “brand” of 4-H as a premier youth development program, businesses, civic and education groups, and elected officials were quick to lend generous support to the program; W.Va. Extension launched a program to educate and train people in W.Va. history, religion, song, and dance. The Butchers (who were trained by the world-renowned musician, Tony Dorsey) were members of the design team and formed a Heritage Dance Team that traveled throughout a multistate area teaching Heritage Dance and preserving Appalachian culture; Many of their 4-H’ers grew into productive, contributing adults. Without the mentoring and support of the Butchers, many youths would not have enjoyed fulfilling lives.

    Rush and Ruby opened their hearts and home to those who needed love and encouragement. After being assaulted at a local bowling alley, the Butchers took an African American exchange student into their home. Another youth practically lived with the Butchers because of a deplorable home life. He became a schoolteacher and administrator who credits the Butchers with his success. Many of the programs they established still exist 75 years later.