Local News Icon Tom Butler Passes Away at Age 79

Long-time local television newsman Tom Butler has died at the age of 79.

The news was confirmed to West Kentucky Star by a local person privy to that information after Butler was mentioned in numerous social media posts.

Butler attended high school and college in Jackson, Tennessee, where he graduated from Union University in 1961. 

He worked at WPSD-TV for 37 years as a news anchor and eventually as vice president of the news department. He retired at the end of 1997. 

Most recently, Butler served as chairman of the board of trustees at Mid-Continent University, which closed in 2014. He suffered a spinal cord injury two years ago in a fall on icy pavement, and a stroke a few days later. Social media posts indicate he had complications this week from a surgery.

Earlier this week, the University of Kentucky’s School of Journalism and Media and the UK School of Journalism Alumni Association announced that Butler would be inducted into their Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame.

He is survived by his wife, Janice and his children. 

Funeral services will be held at 1 pm on Tuesday, April 4 at Heartland Worship Center in Paducah. Friends may visit from 4 - 8 pm on Monday, and from 10 am until noon on Tuesday at Heartland. Lindsey Funeral Home of Paducah is in charge of the arrangements.