In Appreciation: Katharine G. Butler

Katharine Gorell Butler, 1978 and 1996 ASHA president, died on June 17, 2019, at age 94, in Monterey, California. The world became a less dynamic and interesting place on June 17. One of the most influential, respected, and loved people in our field passed away in Monterey, California, leaving behind a legacy that will endure through her ever-present spirit and through all of us who were fortunate enough to bask in her light for a brief time. Katharine G. Butler, known simply as Kay, will be sorely missed. For many of us in the speech and language world, Kay was nurturer-in-chief who provided the push we needed to leave her protective professional and personal nest. In Kay’s unique, forward-looking style, she taught us to break traditions that needed to be broken, to “fight the good fight” in language-learning disabilities and the expanding role of speech-language pathologists in literacy. Kay took on many issues before they became issues. She had an amazing ability to look beyond the curve in the road and figure out what the next challenge might be, how it might present itself, and what to do about it. Elizabeth Bates so eloquently reminded us about a decade ago that Kay “put the language into the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association” title. Taking on leadership roles in the field, as president of ASHA twice (1978–1979 and 1996–1997) and as president of the California Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Kay was a teacher, researcher, writer, editor, ad...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Tags: News Slider Language Disorders Speech Disorders speech-language pathology Source Type: blogs