By Julie Rossman
Correspondent
The atmosphere was electric Feb. 24 as Green Bay Packers great LeRoy Butler addressed students and faculty at Union Grove Elementary School.
It didn’t seem to matter that none of the children knew him when he played for the Packers. When he greeted the students with his warm smile, his enthusiasm and his positive message – he seemed to win them all over in a hurry.
Butler’s visit was part of his “Butler vs. Bullying” campaign, an anti-bullying message he is working to spread to students in Wisconsin.
Butler landed at the Union Grove school thanks to the efforts of two students: brothers Ayden and Connor Schiveley, who worked together on an essay for a contest.
They wrote about bullying and about “why LeRoy Butler should come to their school.” Their essay was picked from more than 1,500 entries.
Before Butler’s talk, the boys got their picture taken with Butler. Then, during the presentation, they were recognized by Butler for their essay and also got to help hand out some prizes to students.
Ayden and Connor are the children of Geoff and Amy Schiveley, Union Grove. A very proud mom, Amy Schiveley said her boys are huge Packer fans, and that they were in awe to see Butler is so down to earth.
For Ayden, a fouth grader, and Connor, a sixth grader, it was just a great day.
“I liked standing up by him and handing out the things,” Connor Schiveley said after Butler’s talk.
“It was all good!” Ayden Schiveley said.
From about 2003 to 2007, Butler said he worked to spread his anti-bullying message in his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, where he visited 140 different schools.
For about the last 18 months, he’s been working to spread that same message to kids in Wisconsin.
Butler said it’s important for kids to understand that even though he was a professional athlete, he had it tough growing up.
Butler explained to the students how he grew up in a rough area, with his mom and four siblings. He was handicapped – with clubbed feet and braces on his legs and in a wheelchair.
He was bullied.
“I had all of these targets on my back,” Butler said.
But he went on to explain how his mother encouraged him to follow his dream to be a professional football player, telling him he had to “be a leader.”
By focusing on that goal, Butler stayed out of trouble, worked hard and went on to be the first in his family to attend college. On May 2, 1990, he was drafted by the Green Bay Packers.
Butler said he does two to four Wisconsin school visits a month, and enjoyed his time at Union Grove Elementary. “I love kids – I’ve got five of my own!” he said.
Butler was grateful to Racine Automotive Group for sponsoring the giveaways for his Union Grove appearance.
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