Former Baseball Exec Dick Butler Dies

.c The Associated Press

12/20/03 16:05 EST

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - Dick Butler, who spent 49 years as a major and minor league baseball executive, died Saturday at 92.

He died at the James L. West Alzheimer's Home in Fort Worth, Texas Rangers spokesman John Blake said.

He began his professional baseball career in 1946 as an assistant to commissioner A.B. ``Happy'' Chandler. He held that job until 1951.

Butler was then president of the South Atlantic League from 1953-54 and of the Texas League from 1955-63. He was vice president and general manager of the Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs from 1964-69, when he was appointed the American League's supervisor of umpires.

He became special assistant to AL president Bobby Brown in 1986. He remained involved in league umpiring until his retirement in 1994.

Burial is Tuesday in his hometown of Paris, Ky. A memorial service will be held at The Ballpark in Arlington in January.