A California community has rallied around one of the local sports legends who lost everything in the Los Angeles area wildfires.
GoFundMe campaign An organization founded by his son has already raised more than $720,000 for Walt Butler, 83, whose Altadena home was destroyed in Wednesday's Eaton Fire.
“We're still trying to assess what actually happened,” Butler told the Post.
“I'm not upset about it, because I'm trying to process it, but I'll recover. I have three daughters and a son,” said the former Stanford football star. Cornerback Treyjon Butler said. Now they're stepping it up a lot to take care of the big guys. ”
The former track and field great, affectionately known as “Jet,” excelled in football and track at Pasadena High School.
He still holds the California Intercollegiate Federation record for the 120-yard high hurdles.
While attending Pasadena City College, Walt eventually became the state junior college champion in the 120-yard hurdles.
This year, he will be inducted into the Pasadena Sports Hall of Fame.
He has owned and operated Walter Butler Shoes in Pasadena since 1979.
“It's an overwhelming experience,” Butler said.
“I'm one of those stupid athletes who thinks they can do anything. Even if I get punched in the gut, I just suck it up. Well, I suck it up and stand tall. I'm in the race. I will win.”
Butler told the Post that a week before the fire, he had a vision that something terrible was about to happen.
“I went outside on Tuesday and looked up and the moon was red,” he said.
“So it was red-red. It was like a big fireball in the sky. I said to my girlfriend, 'The moon is red.' That's because I told her a week ago that something big was going to happen soon. she dismissed it. I always have these visions. ”
He could see a fire raging on the other side of the mountain near his house. Soon the flames “jumped over the mountain like a shot put.”
The wind was so strong that “the house shook,” he said.
So Butler and his girlfriend, Marilyn Myers, 70, “left everything behind, jumped in their car and drove off. We parked in a nearby parking lot and went to sleep. In fact, we had a good night's sleep. Ta.”
Butler was able to visit her home Wednesday night.
“Everything is gone,” he said.
“It's gone, it's gone, it's like gone. I had a new Corvette Stingray and some old beat-up classic cars. The Corvette was gone. It didn't exist. And I said to myself, I say, “Is this true?'' It's impossible, but I think it probably is. ”
Butler, who opened Walt Butler Shoes in Pasadena in 1979, said he is not surprised by the support he has received.
He said the community he has served all his life is giving back.
“I know that I will get through this. [losing everything]” he said.
“I'll have my Corvette back by this time next month.”
