James (Jim) Butler AKA Mr. Ford World Champion Racing Legend James p***ed away on November 27, 2006 at the age of 84. James was born in Ft. Cobb Ok November 10, 1922 to Robert and Bertha Reed Butler. James and his wife Inez lived in Morton Tx until 1970 where they owned a garage and wrecking yard. James and Inez moved to Graham Texas in 1970, then in 1990 they moved to Lake Brownwood, and their final move came in 1999 to Ft. Stockton Tx. James had a great love for fast cars, and built and raced many hot rods in his lifetime. James was widely known as Mr. Ford. James and Inez began their racing career on the circle track circuit in 1950. In the late 1950s James began drag racing on the quarter and eighth mile tracks. Two of James most famous race cars were Rowdy Willy which won the Top Ten In The World honors in 1960. James sold Rowdy Willy to the Charioteer Drag Racing club in Hobbs NM and the driver for the Charioteers was Lee Proctor of Odessa. Rowdy was in a featured article in the fall 2004 edition of the G***er magazine. The last hot rod was a little Falcon Ranchero powered by a 289 cubic inch engine. James won the World Championship at Green Valley in 1966 with Remember Me. Bryan Teal was the only man James felt was worthy of driving his race cars, and was the official driver of Remember Me. ****ey Harrell known as Mr. Chevrolet drove Remember Me once on the eight mile track in Illinois, winning the championship. Both Rowdy Willy and Remember Me held many world records. In 1963 James built a 1963 Ford Falcon Sprint Lil Red for the Morton Ford House which was never outrun . until James outrun it with his 1963 Ford Falcon 289 cubic inch rod Remember Me. The most famous winning races were when James won the Nationals with Rowdy Willy and also with his tow car, a 1958 Ford station wagon. Two years later he won the Nationals with Rowdy Willy and also with his tow car a 1960 Ford Starliner. When James lost his eyesight and retired from drag racing, he began a new career of working on boat motors, this career lasted for 45 years. There was never anything he could not do when he had an engine to work on and tools in his hand until the day he p***ed from this earth. Im sure daddy rode a hot rod to heaven. Visitation will be in Morton Tx Wednesday at the Head Memorial Funeral Home 309 N.E. 8th Street from 10 9 . Graveside services for James Clinton Butler will be in the Enochs cemetery Thursday November 30 at 10:30 am. Honorary Pall Bearers: Bryan Teal Buford Hemphill James Swafford Lee Proctor Joe McCrorey Raymond Martin
i talked to james many times iran at hobbs many times i am from roswell nm. i rember all of his cars well he was friends with welden day that was a salesman for desmond ford sorry to here hes gone ilive in denison tex now i bring him up from time to time those were the days slicks
I am wondering if Jim ever raced at Big Spring, TX? I ran a drag strip there in 1956-58. I have a picure of him on my sight I think, running a 1956 Ford ranchero. Anyone interested in finding out if this is he go to my web site at www.hdeshazo.com and send me an e-mail if you recognize him.
I remember both Jim and Inez running at Caddo Mills back in the early years... Jim was under the Willys doing something on a creeper and Inez grabbed his leg,jerked him out from under and said "Let me fix the damn thing" every body around laughed like hell...........What a pair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I think she was the boss........
James is Grandfather and yes he did race at Big Springs with a 1956 Ranchero Pick Up 300 cu. in. Ran in Super Charged-Super Stockcl***.
My brother, Raymond Martin raced his "Outlaw" mustang for many years at Green Valley. Because of him, I got to ***ociate with some real characters of the sport. A pair I remember well were Jim and Inez Butler. My brother and Jim became good friends through their west Texas heritage and love for anything Ford. One distinct memory is during that summer of ’66. Driving by my brother’s repair shop on a Friday night, I noticed the doors ajar and lights coming from inside. I stopped and looked inside. In the dimly lit corrugated tin building was that Ranchero with the front end up on stands and Inez on a Creeper underneath removing the main caps. My brother and Jim were jawing about something elsewhere in the shop. They had been racing somewhere and were scheduled to put on a little show at a small local track on Sunday that my brother was affiliated with. The engine had suffered a significant malfunction and Jim and Inez were determined to be ready to put on a show for the locals. They succeeded at that by having the little 289 Ranchero pulling wheelies on Sunday at that little track near Whitesboro to the amazement of the local fans. I still remember that little script written on the fenders: “Yes! It’s a 289.” Can’t blame most folks for doubting it but that was just showing the talent of Jim and Inez Butler. I was rather amused looking over the obituary for Jim recently when I noticed that my brother was listed as an honorary pallbearer. My brother Raymond had died six years earlier and many years earlier than he should have. Just goes to show how deep the reverence is for those Ford faithful.
I was in James' shop one afternoon when he was trying to fit a larger set of slicks on a customer's beautiful blue Mustang drag car. They wouldn't quite clear the wheel opening, so James picked up an air chisel and (without marking, measuring, or taping anything) began to open up the quarter panel. The owner came around the back of the car and about sh__! He said "Wait! The rule book says you can't do that! James whipped out his own rule book (he ALWAYS had one in his hip pocket) and said "Look right here-- Mild customizing is permitted. So, I'm customizing the son of a b____ !" Another day, I asked him about some big olive green things on a shelf. "Carburetors" he said, "Two-barrel carburetors. I got to run them one year in 2-barrel cl*** (AHRA) and they made a rule just because of me-- No tank carburetors allowed." The previous wording allowed "any two-barrel carburetor" so James went to military surplus and got these HUGE two barrel carbs off an Army tank!
There is a guy a selling a tribute to James Butler's Ranchero on that auction site. Neat ride. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford...4091843?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item43aa8bb6c3
Slicks, my grandfather talks about working under James butler in 1963. You might know of my grandfather. He lives in Artesia. and owns a pink T-bucket. His name is Dusty Smart
I first met James and Inez at Carlsbad dragstrip in '63. I was there with some coworkers from Roswell. James had a Ranchero Towed with another Ranchero and both ran like bullets. After James and Inez moved to Lake Brownwood I would visit with them at his Boat shop. He was going blind then and explained his vision as looking through a picket fence, and every day the pickets got closer together. They moved back to West Texas and I lost contact. And it is true that Inez ran the show,, she could remove a 4 speed before you could say don't do it. Lots of stories there between the two.
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