On February 9th, SUNY Old Westbury held a commemoration to honor the life and legacy of Reverend and President-Emeritus Calvin O. Butts III.
The commemoration was held in the Calvin O. Butts III library, with attendees consisting of President-Emeritus Butts’ family members, friends, professors both retired and current, as well as first-year and former students; and members of Reverend Butts’ church, the renowned Abyssinian Baptist.
Speaking at the commemoration, President Timothy Sams and Vice President for Communications & College Relations, Micheal Kinane both emphasized that they wanted the event to celebrate the life and legacy of President-Emeritus Butts, rather than mourn his passing.
The 2-hour celebration included speakers, singers and a video featuring Dr. Butts being interviewed and speaking on Old Westbury graduates, their character and success. Speakers spoke on Dr. Butts’ genuine love and passion for the students and the college of Old Westbury.
Speakers at the event included first year students who read passages written by Dr. Butts. Other speakers included Mr. Kevin Law, who referred to himself as Dr. Butts’ friend and colleague.
Mr. Law previously served as the President of the Long Island Association and currently chairs the affordable housing team for the TRITEC Real Estate Company. The Long Island Association, according to its website, “ensures the region’s economic vitality and provides leadership to guarantee a bright future for Long Island. Long Island’s future is our business.”
Current Old Westbury President, Timothy E. Sands as he addresses the attendees
Mr. Law spoke on Dr. Butts’ passion and genuine concern for the well-being of Old Westbury’s students, stating that Butts “really cared about Long Island, he cared about the future of Long Island, he cared about making sure there was a strong economy, so the kids here, when they graduated, had jobs.” He also added that Dr. Butts was also concerned with ensuring there was affordable housing on Long Island so that Old Westbury students and graduates had a place to live.
The passages read were from a textbook for a course titled, Ethics of Engagement, which is a class required for all first-year students. This passage, read by Kevin Coleman, a freshman at Old Westbury included Dr. Butts’ vision of education at Old Westbury. “At Old Westbury we are trying to teach you how to lead and how to go from this place confident in your knowledge and skills. We want you to let your light shine, whether in the communities in which you live, the career paths you follow or in the greater world to which you are exposed. The purpose of an education at Suny College at Old Westbury is to build character.”
In a video of an old interview with Dr. Butts shown at the commemoration, Dr. Butts quoted W.E.B. DuBois stating that “education must build character,” adding “Therefore, I argue, if I help to build a man or woman of strong character, they will get a job.”
Dr. Butts was SUNY Old Westbury’s longest tenured president. He was an “expert in multiple domains,” President Sams said after the reception. His leadership and legacy cannot just be confined to all the wonderful things he has done for Old Westbury. In his speech, President Sams said Dr. Butts left a legacy that has affected “35 million African Americans and 1.5 billion Africans worldwide.”
Dr. Butts also served in national roles such as being a member of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS and serving as Chairman of the Board of the National Black Leadership Commission.
Dr. Butt was also influential with his religious work. Serving as a pastor and mentor to Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia, according to a tweet posted by the Georgia Senator shortly after Dr. Butt passed away.
Every domain Dr. Butts worked in, he did so with the intention of advancing social justice for all. This is evident through SUNY Old Westbury’s diverse student body, which was recognized by the U.S. News and World Report several times throughout the tenure of Dr. Butts.
In addition, since 2018, the institution has continuously earned the “Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award” from Insight Into Diversity magazine. In the twenty-one years Dr. Butts served as President, he brought many changes to the OW campus, including renovating the library that now bears his name and adding the new $64 million Academic Building as well as the Woodlands Residence Halls.
