Jack & Rita Butcher
Jack Butcher is a name heard around the state of Indiana, and for great reason. While Jack is a humble, caring resident of our small town of Loogootee, he also holds the honorable title of Indiana’s Winningest High School Basketball Coach. In 1991, Jack was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. His 45 years of coaching constituted an impressive era of high school basketball for Loogootee.
Jack was born and raised in Martin County and promised himself he’d always return following graduation. He grew up fishing, hunting, and doing what he loves most- playing basketball. Jack later married Rita (Jones), and they decided to raise their family here. Jack and Rita have been married for 63 years. They now have seven kids, 16 grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. The love of family is clear as you walk in the front door of their home and see dozens of pictures of kids and grandkids under a large sign that says “Family”. In Jack’s free time he enjoys playing golf, while Rita spends her free time walking and volunteering in humble ways with their church. The couple still resides in Martin County where their roots lie.
The path to the successful life Jack built was not always an easy one. Jack Butcher led Memphis State to the 1957 National Invitation Tournament title game after spending two years in the U.S. Army. He was drafted by Red Auerbach’s Boston Celtics in 1957, but politely declined the offer after deciding that his destiny was coaching Loogootee High School Basketball. As coach, the Lions won 20 sectional titles, eight regionals and two semi-states. Jack ended his coaching career with 806 wins and four undefeated seasons. Coach Butcher is known for molding the small-town boys of Loogootee into a united team that played fundamental, winning basketball. Though Jack’s “coaching days” ended a long time ago, John and Rita Butcher continue to be cherished in Martin County.
The Rita and Jack Butcher Loogootee Family Scholarship fund was created in 2011 and converted to an MCCF endowment in 2014. The scholarship will forever honor the Loogootee “basketball family” that supported the Butchers so much for all those years. Jack also wanted to honor his wife, Rita, who he says was always so supportive of him as a husband, father, player, and coach. He knew he was never going to change the world, but decided he could pay it forward and contribute in positive ways.
Because receiving a scholarship was so critical to furthering his education and basketball career, Jack desired to return the favor to residents of Martin County. Rita and Jack wanted to encourage students to have a good attitude, a good work ethic, to perform well academically, and to participate in either sports and/or extracurricular activities. The scholarship is designated for a high school senior at Loogootee High School who has been accepted in a college, university, vocational, or trade school. They created this scholarship because the family is past, present, and future supporters of Martin County and Loogootee basketball. The Butchers desire “to give back for all our blessings.” Jack Butcher will forever be known for his records and achievements, but he and Rita also hold a legacy with Martin County that aims to continue making our home a better place.