Dates

• Existence: 1887-1961

Biography

A Kansas native, Guy G. Butler (1887 -- 1961) spent most of his life in Iowa. His parents moved to Pocahontas County when he was but a year old. He attended public schools and graduated from high school in Rolfe, Iowa. In 1913, he graduated from Northwestern University as a dentist. His first dental practice was in Chicago. In 1916, Butler sailed for Japan where he became the holder of the seventh license ever issued to practice dentistry in the Imperial Japanese Empire. The following year he left for Siam where he was the dentist by royal appointment to the royal household of King Rama VI. In 1921, Butler married Suma Grenova of Odessa, Russia in Swatow, China. An accident which left him with nerve damage forced him to retire from dentistry. He moved back to Rolfe, Iowa in 1923. There he began a new career as a farmer and banker. Butler was founder, stockholder, director, and president of the Rolfe State Bank. He was active in many fraternal organizations, the Farm Bureau, and the Iowa Bankers Association.

A Republican, Butler served as chairman of the Pocahontas County Republican Central Committee. He was also a delegate to the 1952 Republican National Convention. His first elected office was as mayor of Rolfe. From there he went on to serve many terms as both a state representative and senator.

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