[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 183 (Monday, November 3, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7866-S7867]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO BILL BUTLER

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a driven 
and civic-minded Kentucky business leader William P. Butler. Bill will 
soon be inducted into the Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame for 
transforming Corporex, a company he founded in 1965, into an multi-
billion-dollar business. I ask my colleagues to please join me in 
applauding Bill on his induction and recognizing his company's immense 
positive impact on northern Kentucky.
  Bill took a risk in 1965, starting his career as a young man in real 
estate. In the beginning, it was hard to do business in the Louisville 
community due to his youth and inexperience. Bill had to innovate, so 
he hired staff who knew the landscape well, and in 5 years, his 
construction company had built 35 buildings across Louisville. He 
brought proof of these accomplishments back to Covington, which 
accelerated the growth of his company.
  In the 1980s, Bill began dreaming about the potential of Covington 
and northern Kentucky and decided to invest in new opportunities. He 
first focused on making the south shore of the Ohio River just as 
vibrant as its northern counterpart. This project eventually became the 
RiverCenter, a business complex home to numerous hotels, businesses, 
and other drivers of economic development. Bill also worked hard 
turning an area near the CVG International Airport into Circleport, one 
of Kentucky's foremost business parks spanning over 650 acres. Bill is 
a one-of-a-kind developer and has certainly made his mark.
  While Bill is an accomplished businessman, he is also heavily 
involved in improving the lives of others in the community. In 2005, he 
founded the Life Learning Center, which works to deliver education and 
care to at-risk individuals, helping them find gainful employment and 
get back on track. In 2024, 100 percent of graduates of the Life 
Learning Center were either employed or enrolled in secondary 
education. Graduates also gain access to

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ongoing support when they finish the program which bolsters support 
groups, a dining hall, and a computer lab. Many students even go on to 
volunteer at the center after they graduate. Bill is not only giving 
back to his community but also helping the cycle of growth continue by 
facilitating others in their giving back.
  Bill graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in 
engineering and was granted an honorary doctor of education degree from 
Northern Kentucky University. He has also shown a commitment to 
education in Kentucky. His philanthropic work through the Butler 
Foundation gives scholars tuition assistance at universities in 
northern Kentucky. This academic year alone, 76 Butler Scholars have 
been awarded over $400,000 in tuition assistance. These scholarships 
are part of his larger goal of boosting northern Kentucky's economy and 
getting bright young minds to stay here in the Commonwealth. He knows 
how important it is for well-educated young people to join the 
workforce in the area. Additionally, he served on the President's 
Advisory Council at NKU from 2003 to 2012.
  Bill is a proven leader in all he does: business, community, family, 
and otherwise. His impact on northern Kentuckians cannot be 
understated, and I admire his commitment to his hometown. I know his 
wife Sue, of 55 years, is looking down with utmost pride as Bill joins 
the ranks of so many distinguished Kentuckians. Again, I ask my 
colleagues to please join me in congratulating my very good friend Bill 
Butler on his induction into the Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame and 
recognizing his profound impact on Kentucky.

                          ____________________