The Strong-Huttig School District Senior Breakfast will be held Friday, May 21, from 8 to 9 a.m. in the High School Cafeteria for seniors, their parents, School Board Members and school officials. The Keynote speaker will be Chester Fort.
Fort will announce the recipient of the West Fraser: Daisy Bates Memorial Scholarship that was established for graduates from the Strong-Huttig School District.
Fort is the Vice-President of US Lumber Operations for West Fraser, the largest lumber producer in North America. West Fraser currently has 21 Lumber Operations in the United States, with a corporate office in Germantown, Tenn.
Fort has been married to Loretta Fort for 35 years; they have two children and three grandchildren.
Fort is from Bluff City, Arkansas. He is the youngest of eight children.
Fort began his career with a broom and shovel at Potlatch in Prescott 38 years ago. Over the years, he was promoted through the ranks to plant superintendent at that operation.
He later moved to North Carolina and became a General Manager for Weyerhaeuser; he stayed there for six years and then relocated to Alabama to be responsible for the lumber business for MeadWestvaco. After nine years, Fort and his family relocated to the Memphis area to work for West Fraser.
When Fort started with West Fraser, he was responsible for the Huttig and Leola operations, then he became responsible for all four Arkansas operations, and later for all seven operations West of the Mississippi River which include locations in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.
Fort’s story of dedication, commitment and willingness to help others is a wonderful inspiration for young people. Through his success, he seeks ways to lend a helping hand to others to ensure their future success.
The Strong-Huttig School District is proud to have West Fraser under the leadership of Fort as a community partner, and it is excited to offer scholarships to our students in memory of such an amazing American as Daisy Bates.
The High School Graduation Ceremony will also be on Friday, at 7 p.m., on the Jerry Burson Football Field. In the event of inclement weather, the graduation ceremony will be in the Bubba Medlin Gymnasium. The 2021 Keynote Graduation Speaker will be Steven Butler.
Butler is a graduate of Strong High School, Class of 1986. He was elected and served as Senior Class President and was voted Most Likely to Succeed by his classmates. His extracurricular activities were basketball, football and baseball. He said he believes his participation in these sports and activities gave him the skills of teamwork, tenacity, resilience and leadership.
At the early age of 11, Butler began working his first job at Food Town grocery store until he graduated from High School.
Butler earned an Associate Degree in Respiratory Therapy from the University of Arkansas in Medical Science; a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Central Arkansas; and a Master Degree in Business Administration from LeTourneau University. He served six years in the Arkansas Army National Guard, where he developed a strong foundation of discipline. He is a proud member of the Noble Fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, Incorporated.
Butler started his career in respiratory therapy, but sought a career in the Pharmaceutical Industry and has flourished for 29 years and counting. He is currently a national leader with a biotech firm leading the Western US Pharmaceuticals.
Butler is the son of Louise Baker and Thomas Butler. He says,
“My mother always taught me to ‘never give up; give out,’” he said.
His late grandmother, Ruby Dell Baker, always told him, “Never let anyone beat you giving or serving.”Butler always pushed thought during tough challenges and has served youth, family, friends and strangers all of his life through coaching and mentoring. God’s grace and an education has been the springboard of his life.
Butler has been happily married to his wife Madelyn for 18 years. They have three boys: Kario, Sterling and Sullivan, and one grandson, Kario Jr. Butler currently resides in Mansfield, Texas, which is a suburb of Dallas.