Farewell to Captain Butch

02 Sep Farewell to Captain Butch

Few people  knew  his real name. He was the last person I knew that still carried a bag phone, that is until it broke, just a few short years ago. He preferred this to the new because it worked better in the mangroves and he could carry a pistol in it as well.  The only reason I know his real name is because of a transaction involving his boat many years ago.  Butch was selling his boat because he had a new one lined up. Some guys came down from Boca Grande and wanted to buy it. Of course he had them meet him while he was on a shelling trip. They wanted the boat and had a cashiers check. Butch said, “he wanted cash.” I happened to be in the marina that day, so by default or just plain marina luck, I took the prospective buyers by jeep down to Sanibel to the bank to cash their cashiers check. I happened to notice the check was written out to someone other than Butch. I took them back to Captiva where they got in their boat and went back up to where Butch was shelling and gave him the cash. One of the many stories with Butch .  He was an excellent story teller. He guided on Captiva since the 1970’s. Butch  had his own little cogerisims,  at the marina we called them ” Butchisms”. Things like “when in doubt chicken out” when talking about the weather. There were many, and they always “hit the nail on the head”. I always enjoyed listening to his stories whether it was his observations on smuggling in the 70’s, the late nights  at Cabbage Key or Captiva in the 70’s  It was all good. He has been  a part of Captiva and Sanibel since the 1970’s. He always took the good with the bad. But he would ALWAYS be there to help. Like when I was a young guide, he let me use his boat trailer. Sounds simple, but there are a few things guides really don’t let people borrow, one a boat trailer the other an  ice bucket.  He let me use both. Thanks for all the Butchisims and advice old friend.  I ‘ll see you on the other side- Wade.