The basketball court at Key West’s middle school will be renamed in honor of the man who played on it, coached on it and inspired young minds on it.
Dexter Butler was a beloved teacher and basketball coach until his shocking and tragic death on March 2 at Key West High School.
Before he wore the coach’s whistle, Butler wore the uniform and was a gifted Key West athlete.
The Monroe County school board on Oct. 8 voted unanimously to rename the basketball court at HOB for Dexter Butler.
More than 50 of his relatives, friends, former players, students and colleagues attended the board meeting to show their support and to join in a celebration of Butler’s life.
His mother, Anita, his wife, Maria, and their young daughter, Viviana were there to share tearful memories white urging the board to vote in favor of the renaming.
It didn’t take much urging, as the board readily agreed to the honor.
Butler died in March while trying to retrieve his keys from a storm drain in the high school parking lot. He fell into the drain and was unable to get out, drowning in about 18 inches of water, superintendent Theresa Axford told the Keys Weekly at the time.
