Southridge Honors Lannie Butler's 35 Years of Music Leadership

When Lannie Butler walked into Southridge High School in Huntingburg in 1991, he had no idea he would spend the next 35 years building one of the most respected and beloved programs in the school's history. Now, as Butler steps into retirement, the Southwest Dubois County School Corporation is marking the end of an era that shaped generations of student musicians.

Southridge High School Principal Mr. Gogel offered a tribute that captured the sentiment of colleagues and students alike. "A big thank you and congratulations are in order for Mr. Butler," Gogel said. "I want to thank him for the years of service, the countless hours invested, and the many lives he has touched while leading music education in our district. I hope he finds retirement both enjoyable and rewarding."

Butler, for his part, distilled three and a half decades into a single sentence. "I am grateful for the wonderful students, colleagues, and people that have been a part of my Southridge career, and I am proud to say that Music Makes A Difference."

That phrase, "Music Makes A Difference," became the throughline of a career that began the year Southridge was still establishing its identity as a school and ends with a music program recognized as among the best in its history. Thirty-five years of rehearsals, performances, and lessons leaves a mark that outlasts any single school year.

The Southwest Dubois County School Corporation closed its tribute with a message directed squarely at the man who gave the program its character: "A sincere and heartfelt Thank You, Mr. Butler, from the Southwest Dubois County School Corporation.