John D. Butler (August 4, 1915 – February 9, 2010) was an American Republican politician from California.[1] John Butler was born 1915 in San Diego. He played football at San Diego State and was named an All-American. He was a transactional lawyer. During World War II he served as a Navy pilot.
Butler was mayor of San Diego from 1951 until 1955. He was the first "native son" mayor to be born in San Diego and the city's youngest mayor.[2] During his tenure as Mayor he was responsible for initiating the one way street system in downtown San Diego and began the development of Mission Bay. Butler appeared on What's My Line and was guessed as mayor by Arlene Francis. The politics of San Diego was the subject of an interview with Butler, which was included in the Oral History Collection of the San Diego Historical Society.[3] Butler lived in the Point Loma area of San Diego during the last decades of his life where he was active at the San Diego Yacht Club and La Playa Yacht Club.
Butler is survived by his wife of 48 years Virginia "Kirk" Butler, five children Carol Loverde, Rob Egenolf, John Butler Jr., Michael Butler and Gail Alaimo, as well as fourteen grandchildren and ten great grandchildren
| Preceded by Harley E. Knox |
Mayor of San Diego, California 1951—1955 |
Succeeded by Charles C. Dail |