Marvin “Butch” Perry died April 25 after a decade-long debilitating illness. His legacy as an active PCFL board trustee during the 1990’s will carry on for generations to come.

Butch was one of the first persons I met in Pocahontas County. In 1974 I was living in Randolph County when I landed a job with the Interagency Council for Child Development office in Marlinton. My co-workers were Walt Weiford and Butch Perry, who incidentally were musicians with a string band called Stompin’ Crick. I was invited into the band due to my experience with the String Bass (upright) in orchestra and jazz music. I eagerly took to the Bluegrass and Old Timey music of the new group.  Butch played harp (harmonica) in the band with enthusiasm and contagious joy. My mind’s ear can still hear him playing a rollicking version of “The Boatman.”

After a few years I moved away from both the job and the band, but in the early 1980’s our paths crossed again. Butch Perry had a key administrative position with Flour Daniel, the contractor for the bulk of the construction of the Bath County Pumped Storage Project. I worked with Virginia Power at the project. Later the Perry family moved to Saudi Arabia where Butch plied his administrative expertise in the energy industry for several years before returning to Pocahontas County.

In the summer of 1991 Butch Perry was appointed by the County Commission as a Trustee to the Board of the Pocahontas County Free Library. Butch replaced Dede Saffer, who was leaving the board.  I was also on the board at that time as president. Others on the board included James Landis, Garnet Hoover, and Eugene Simmons. Butch was elected Secretary.

The main challenge facing the library board involved upgrading inadquate facilities. Efforts to build a new library in Marlinton were stalled due to controversy on location.  A window opened up in Hillsboro, however, with the school board offering their former school bus garage. I remember well how Butch Perry applied himself to the renovation of the Hillsboro facility, working effectively with the architects, contractors, government officials, as well as putting together the financial package. More than anyone, Butch moved the Hillsboro Library building project to successful completion and implementation. Butch was always highly engaged in library responsibilities, a tribute to his love for his native Pocahontas County and his high hopes for its future.

In 1993 I left the library board to accept a graduate school fellowship in Philadelphia.  Butch Perry remained on the board for the remainder of the decade and was influential in the developmental stages that led to the construction of the new McClintic Library in Marlinton. 

In 2004, as debilitating illness advanced upon Butch, our old Stompin’ Crick band gathered for a 30 year reunion at the Perry home. John Sparks, BJ Gudmundsson, Norris Long, Jim Dolan, Walt Weiford, and our families found our highlight to be Butch’s joy in our rusty music.

In mid-April I stopped by Butch’s room at the Pocahontas Center and spent a few minutes with him. I prayed, and then left to go back to my library work, my last time to see him. He died a few weeks later. Butch’s legacy carries on in the memory of his exceptionally devoted family, his many friends who loved him, and in his dedicated and effective work for his community.

Several donations have come to Pocahontas Libraries in memorial to Butch Perry. Butch and Cathy Michael collected donations from neighbors on Hamilton Hill. Contributions also came from the extended Perry family: Teenie and Roy Gibson; Mary “Tootles” Nottingham; Janet Perry; Duane and Sarah Gibson; Kelly and Steve Green; and Makalea and Rick Gale.  These are appreciatively received to carry out the vision Butch Perry had for his community libraries.











































































;




;
;
;