Aug 17, 2023 12:00 PM
Raymond Butler
Lavaca Bay Foundation

Skip Sockell is the Rotarian of the week !!

About Raymond Bulter: 

Raymond grew up in Point Comfort and followed in his father’s footsteps in the marine industry. As a teenager he often accompanied his father onboard the ships transiting the Matagorda Ship Channel. Captain Butler was a steamship captain for Alcoa Aluminum and was the first Matagorda Bay Bar Pilot.

Raymond is a Registered Professional Engineer in Texas and owner of Butler Consulting, specializing in marine operations as well as towboat, and barge design for clients along the Gulf Coast. Recent projects include supervising construction of fifty inland towing vessels, coordinating fuel-supply for a major coal-fired power plant, multiple marine logistics projects, certification of design for multiple inland towing vessels. Raymond was also the Special Projects Manager for the BP Oil Spill Response team, reporting directly to the BP Incident Commander in Mobile, Alabama and working closely with Governors, Senior Coast Guard Leaders and multiple state officials.  As Executive Director of the Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association for ten years, Raymond authored the Gulf Coast Joint Hurricane Team Protocol, now used as the industry standard for major inland waterway emergencies across the Gulf Coast region.

Before founding his consulting firm, Raymond held a variety of positions in the marine and chemical industries.  He was department head of a major olefins facility for Union Carbide and served as vice-president of operations and maintenance for the two largest tank barge operators in the country, Kirby Corporation and Hollywood Marine.

Raymond graduated Summa Cum Laude from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.  He is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Texas Waterways Operators, and the Texas Society of Professional Engineers and served as the Vice-Chair for the South Texas Area Maritime Security Committee. The US Coast Guard’s Eighth District has twice awarded Raymond its highest civilian award, the Meritorious Public Service Medal. The Army Corps of Engineers awarded Raymond its Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, its highest civilian award. He is also a licensed, instrument-rated, private pilot with fixed wing and rotorcraft ratings.

Raymond has one daughter, Tiffany, who lives in Oregon and is a licensed mental health counselor.