Orval Ray Butler (1925 - 1990)

Orval Ray Butler’s biography is built and maintained by people like you. Create an online profile of Orval Ray so that their life is remembered forever. If any factual information is incorrect, please edit Orval Ray’s biography.

Pictures really do say a thousand words. Add photos of Orval Ray during various points of their life.

1925 - In the year that Orval Ray Butler was born, in July, the Scopes Trial - often called the Scopes Monkey Trial - took place, prosecuting a substitute teacher for teaching evolution in school. Tennessee had enacted a law that said it was "unlawful to teach human evolution in any state-funded school". William Jennings Bryan headed the prosecution and Clarence Darrow headed the defense. The teacher was found guilty and fined $100. An appeal to the Supreme Court of Tennessee upheld the law but overturned the guilty verdict.

1935 - By the time this person was merely 10 years old, on September 8th, Louisiana Senator Huey Long was shot by Dr. Carl Weiss. Weiss was shot and killed immediately by Long's bodyguards - Long died two days later from his injuries. Long had received many death threats previously, as well as threats against his family. He was a powerful and controversial figure in Louisiana politics (and probably gained power through multiple criminal acts). His opponents became frustrated with their attempts to oust him and Dr. Weiss was the son-in-law of one of those opponents. His funeral was attended by 200,000 mourners.

1942 - At the age of 17 years old, Orval Ray was alive when on June 17th, Roosevelt approved the Manhattan Project, which lead to the development of the first atomic bomb. With the support of Canada and the United Kingdom, the Project came to employ more than 130,000 people and cost nearly $2 billion. Julius Robert Oppenheimer, a nuclear physicist born in New York, led the Los Alamos Laboratory that developed the actual bomb. The first artificial nuclear explosion took place near Alamogordo New Mexico on July 16, 1945.

1977 - This person was 52 years old when on January 20th, Jimmy Carter became the 39th President of the United States. Running against incumbent Gerald Ford, he won 50.1% of the popular vote to Ford's 48.0%. He was elected to only one term.

1990 - In the year of Orval Ray Butler's passing, on April 24th, the Hubble telescope was launched into space after long delays due to the Challenger explosion. An optical flaw was found within weeks of launch but was fixed within three years. The discoveries made possible by the Hubble have contributed to scientists' understanding of the universe.

Who was Orval Ray’s parents? Did they get married and did they have children? Share Orval Ray’s family tree to share their legacy and genealogy pedigree.

What do you remember about Orval Ray Butler? Share your memories of special moments and stories you have heard about them. Or just leave a comment to show the world that Orval Ray is remembered.