Teleflora chairman Thomas Butler dies
Teleflora chairman Thomas Butler dies
Thomas Butler, chairman of Teleflora, died Aug. 14 after battling cancer, according to a news release.
Butler joined American Floral Services, based in Oklahoma City, OK, in 1985 as executive vice president and then became the company’s president. In 2000, he led the merger of AFS and Teleflora, and then became its chairman.
A statement issued by Teleflora read in part, “For many who knew Tom, he was considered to be the ‘Chief Champion of Florists’ — always there when they needed him, always understanding their issues and concerns, and always representing their cause. With nearly 50 years’ experience in the floral business, the last 30 with Teleflora, Tom was always the preeminent industry authority and visionary.”
Butler was born in Detroit in 1945, graduated from Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit in 1967 and went on to teach English and coach basketball and football.
His career in the floral industry began at FTD, where he held a variety of senior positions, including director of the international division. After FTD he was the vice president of sales and marketing for Syndicate Sales in Kokomo, IN, and then became president and chief executive officer of AFS.
Butler served as world president of Teleflora International, chairman of the American Floral Endowment, chairman of the AFE Development Committee and trustee on the AFE Board. He was a member of the American Academy of Florists, Professional Floral Communicators International and Society of American Florists (past board of directors). He was also a member of numerous national and state floral associations, the news release stated.
Butler established the Tom Butler Family Fund with a contribution of $50,000 in July to provide undesignated funds to support AFE’s research and grant efforts.
Known for a knack for fundraising and an interest in expanding and improving the endowment, he helped raise more than $2 million by establishing new industry named funds within AFE since 2011.
During his career Butler received many awards including SAF’s Hall of Fame Award and the Paul Ecke Jr. Award; Florida State Florists’ Association Hall of Fame Award, Lifetime Achievement Award and Place in the Sun Award; Michigan State Florist Association Award of National Industry Service; Michigan Floral Foundation Hall of Fame Award; Arkansas State Florists’ Association Distinguished Service Award and Oklahoma State Florists’ Hall of Fame Award.
A memorial service was held in September in Oklahoma City, where he had lived for many years.
