Gainesville developing giant, Clark Butler died this past friday at his home. Mr. Butler had a huge impact on the development of Gainesville, and many of it's retail plazas. Working six days a week was S. Clark Butler had his hands in many projects and developments around Gainesville. He's credited with turning the city into one of the most upbeat metropolitan areas and building a different perspective for the college town. Alachua County Manager Randall Reid says, "It would be hard pressed to visualize Gainesville now, that did not have the impact of his life. He was truly dedicated for the advancement of Gainesville and Alachua County and it's evidence in the buildings and the development around this community".

Building the well known Butler Plaza and once serving as a Gainesville City Commissioner, Clark Butler died at the age of eighty-nine years old. At a young age he moved to Gainesville and with little money in his pocket opened a fruit stand. Later he and his brother turned their interests to developing, building various estates. He served a term as mayor and his charity work did not go unnoticed, making donations to places such as the University of Florida, Homeless Foundations and Shands Hospital for cancer research.

The Alachua County Commissioners office will dedicate a nature preserve calling it the "Clark Butler Nature Preserve" sometime early next year.