Butler Derrick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Butler Derrick
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 3rd district |
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| In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1995 |
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| Preceded by | William Jennings Bryan Dorn |
| Succeeded by | Lindsey Graham |
| Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the Edgefield County district |
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| In office January 14, 1969 – January 3, 1975 |
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| Preceded by | Walter Clark |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
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Butler Carson Derrick Jr.
September 30, 1936 Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | May 5, 2014 (aged 77) Easley, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | University of South Carolina (BA) University of Georgia (LLB) |
Butler Carson Derrick Jr. (born September 30, 1936 – died May 5, 2014) was an American politician. He served as a U.S. Representative for South Carolina. He worked hard for his state for many years.
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Early Life and Learning
Butler Derrick was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. When he was young, his family moved to South Carolina. He went to public schools in Mayesville and Florence. After high school, he studied at the University of South Carolina. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree there in 1958. Later, he went to the University of Georgia Law School. He earned his law degree in 1965. That same year, he became a lawyer in South Carolina. He started his law practice in Edgefield.
Starting in Politics
Butler Derrick began his political career in South Carolina. From 1969 to 1974, he served in the South Carolina House of Representatives. He represented Edgefield County. He also attended important meetings for the South Carolina Democratic Party. These were in 1972 and 1974.
Representing South Carolina in Congress
In 1974, Butler Derrick became a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. This was a big meeting for the Democratic Party. That same year, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He represented South Carolina's 3rd district. He took over from a long-serving congressman, William Jennings Bryan Dorn.
Butler Derrick was very popular. He was re-elected nine times! He served in Congress for 20 years. During his time, he worked on important groups. These included the House Rules Committee and the Budget Committee. In his last term, he was a Chief Deputy Whip. This meant he helped lead his party in the House.
A Changing Political Landscape
Even though his district started to favor Republicans, Butler Derrick usually won easily. He only faced a tough election once, in 1988. He decided not to run for re-election in 1994. After he left, the district became even more Republican. Lindsey Graham, a Republican, won his old seat easily. No Democrat has won more than 40% of the vote in that district since Butler Derrick left office.
Life After Congress
After leaving Congress, Butler Derrick continued to work. He became a partner at a law firm called Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP. This firm is in Washington, DC. In 2009, he was chosen to join the Common Cause National Governing Board. This group works to make government more open. For many years, he lived with his family in Charleston. A few years before he passed away, he moved to Easley.
His Final Years
Butler Derrick passed away on May 5, 2014. He died from cancer at his home in Easley, South Carolina.
