Fred M. Butzel --- A National Institution

n Evaluation of the Activities of the Jewish First Citizen of Detroit On
The Occasion of His Sixty-Fifth Birthday

RED Butzel was 65 on Tuesday of this week. The
many who know and love him will comment
n the occasion i as they will not do about the birthday
f the average person. For thousands of others to whom
e is more or less of.a myth, the wonder arises what sort
f a man can this be about whom so many people talk
terms of keen affection and admiration.
To me, one of the most interesting and impressive
spects of his personality is what might be called its
ontradictory nature. Here is the senior member of a
rge and successful law firm who practices law little
d respects even less its technicalities. He has no social
spirations but there are few people anywhere whose
resence is more sought after at social events of all
'rids. There probably is no one who has served as best
an at so many weddings, an evidence of what he has

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pioneered in the organization of boys' self:-governing
clubs. These, in contrast to former procedures, were
"rein entirely by the boys themselves and without inter-
ference or unasked-for advice from their elders. The
Trysquare Club was the first of these. Its alumni and
those of other similarly organized clubs comprise today
a large number of our outstanding leaders in commun-
ity work, in commerce, and in the professions. As an
outgrowth of this interest he was one of those who or-
ganized the Ford Republic. It was he who arranged to
have its formative years guided by the late Homer T.
Lone. The active leadership of Lane influenced by his
constant counselling with Butzel laid the basis on which
this institution has operated so effectively.

ARLY in the century General Sir Baden Powell
came to Toronto to tell about the Boy Scout
movement which he had founded. Fred and a very few
other Detroiters went there to listen and confer. On
their return they founded the Boy Scout organization
in Detroit. Fred was for many years an officer of the
governing council.
He was one of the early advocates of foster home
care for children.

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N WORLD WAR I he was chairman of both
the War Camp Community Service for this area
and of the Home Service Section of the Red Cross. Not
long after U. S. entered the war came the pressure for
a merger of war relief campaigns. Fred was one of the
most active in the establishment of the Detroit Patriotic
Fund. For many years he has been a vice-president of
the Detroit Community Fund and chairman of its
executive committee.
He was one of the few American-born Jews who
actively espoused Zionism in its early years. He was
for several terms honorary chairman of the local Zion-
ist district

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VER SINCE the organization of the Jewish:
Welfare Federation, he has been chairman of
its Executive Committee. In addition he has in many
years carried the heavy responsibilities of chairman of
the Allied Jewish Campaign.
Even though he performs with complete faithfulness
the organizational duties that he accepts, he gives much
time out of every day to the problems of individuals.
Those who seek his advice range all the way from
men and women at the top of the ladder to the re-
cently arrived immigrant. The great astuteness with
which he suggests solutions to their problems is aston-
ishing. It is gratefully recognized b -so the many whom
he has steered out of all kinds of difficulties.

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Active in Business Fields

ESPITE his major interest in social problems,
the breadth of his capacities has also been dem-
onstrated in the business field. He was from the
beginning a director of the Detroit Motorbus Company
which pioneered in the furnishing of bus service on
Detroit streets. He was vice-president of the Detroit
Board of Commerce and is now a director of the Detroit
Federal Savings and Loan Association. He also was in
charge of the purchase of the land for the present
House of Correction plant near Northville. On numer-
ous occasions when business men have found them-
selves in serious difficulties, it has been Fred's advice

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and active assistance which has enabled them to get
back on their feet.
He has always found time to continue an active inter-
est in music. Many people, young and old, regularly
attend musical groups at his home.

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T PRESENT, in addition to the activities out-
lined and many more not mentioned, he is act-
lined
ing chairman of a draft board, is vice-president of the
U. S. 0. for Wayne County, chairman of the Jewish
Welfare Board of Michigan, a member of the County
Auditors Committee on hospitalization for the indigent,
on the committee to investigate charges of cruelty in
the Wayne County Training School and is a vice-presi-

dent of the newly organized Metropolitan War Chest.
To me his outstanding characteristics are his almost
unerring judgments on human nature ; his uncanny ac-
curacy in forecasting what people are likely to do, his
keen, incisive and fair mind, his absolute integrtiy, and
his all-encompPscing sympathy with the various prob-
lems that confront human beings. His encyclopedic
knowledge of what is going on in every field of work

is astonishing.

FRED M. BUTZEL AT THE AGE OF 5

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lthough he has never sought public office and has sel-
om been active in politics, mayors, governors and
dges are almost constantly seeking his advice as to
ppointrnents and policies.

A Pioneer in New Ventures

yy E HAS been uninterested in acquiring wealth for
jut himself and gives beyond all proportion to his

leans. Yet there are large numbers of business and
kofessional men who do not take any major financial
tep
without his advice. Highly respected by conserv-
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lives, he has been a pioneer in many new procedures
2nd has always been a protagonist of the underdog. The
lower of his mind-and his personality is tremendous
d yet thoughmany come to him for advice, he always
:ies 443 develop independent individual thinking.
Though possessed of moderate private means, the
hts of labor have always been important to him. A
Chelor; his advice is sought by scores of Young people
templating marriage and by parents whose problems
regard_ to their children baffle Item.

ifnemotional,
Yet Sentimental,
_ LIFE-LONG
-
member of Temple Beth El, there

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has probably never been a Detroiter more loved
pd respected by orthodox and conservative elements.
ossessed of deep sentiment, he seldom becomes emo-
;onal but lets his keen thinking direct the expression
I his sentiments so that their fulfillment becomes more
kely.
Fundamentally kindly and understanding, he gives
greet and extremely pointed criticism where he thinks
will be helpful.
He has himself contributed and has secured from
rs substantial funds for medical education and
pitals but until recently there has been no man of
iy acquaintance who neglected his own health more.
T. /
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ightights in His Career

T WOULD be futile to try to list all of his
activities but I will endeavor to touch some of
e highlights.
He transferred from the University of Michigan to
e Detroit College of Law so that he might read at
me to his father whose sight was then failing. One
his first community enterprises was to teach English
mposition to American boys who had had to leave
hool early. There began an active interest in young
ys which has never ended. He early organized man-
al training classes for the old Self Help Circle. He

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FRED M. BUTZEL AT THE AGE OF 22 WHEN
HE WAS ADMITTED TO THE MICHIGAN
STATE BAR

Aided Cause of the Negro

HE problems facing the Negro also have enlisted
his active interest. He has been on the board
of the Detroit Urban League for many years and is at
present president of Parkside Hospital, a Negro insti-
tution. He has helped finance the college education of
many promising Negro boys. Recently at the centenary
of the Bethel A. M. E. Church he was given a medal
for his service to the race.
Naturally, such abilities as his have been sought
by national as well as by local movements. He has long
been a member of the governing boards of the American
Jewish Committee and of the Joint Distribution Com-
mittee. He was vice-president and for a short time act-
ing president of the School for Jewish Social Service.
He has also served as president of the National Confer-
ence of Jewish Social Work.
I doubt whether anyone other than himself knows
the total number of boys for whom he has advanced
funds for college education.

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Constructive Help to Refugees

T N RECENT years his position as trustee of sev-
i eral of the Aaron Mendelson trusts has enabled
him to direct in a unique way assistance to education,
social service and to unfortunate individuals.
As chairman of the Resettlement Service he has been
outstanding in his constructive help to refugees. His
ingenuity in devising plans for helping them to make
a new start here has been of incalculable value.

FRED M. BUTZEL AT THE AGE OF 13 WHEN
HE WAS CONFIRMED AT TEMPLE BETH
EL_ BY RABBI LOUIS GROSSMAN

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N EITHER a group or an individual confer.
ence, Fred always creates great respect for his
knowledge and helpfulness. The most Unforgettable im-
pression, however, is 'produced by his extraordinary
charm, created partly by his vivid and picturesque
language, partly by his complete lack of formality and
principally by the depth and fearlessness of his unique
personality. The better you know him, the more you
realize this and the more deeply do you love the man.
Let's hope that for many years he can continue to
be what has been said of him so often, "Fred Butzel
is more than a man, he's a national institution."

