UWF receives over $18,000 donation to fund Larry Butler Memorial Music Scholarship

The University of West Florida celebrated a $18,500 donation to the Dr. Grier Williams School of Music in support of the Larry Butler Memorial Music Scholarship Fund on January 30, 2025. The new funds are a result of fundraising during the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival, which was held in November.

The Larry Butler Memorial Music Scholarship was created in 2015 by Peggy Butler in memory of her husband, a Grammy Award-winning songwriter and producer, and Pensacola native. The scholarship provides financial assistance to UWF music students as they complete their degree programs and provides them the opportunity to travel to work with world-class artists and attend competitions, conventions and performances.

“Over the last 10 years, Peggy Butler has been a generous and steadfast supporter of the Dr. Grier Williams School of Music,” said Corey McKern, interim director of the Dr. Grier Williams School of Music. “Because of her annual donations to the school, our students are able to focus on their music education and career aspirations without financial limitations. We could not be more thankful for Peggy’s support.”

The Butler family and friends have raised more than $268,700 to support the Dr. Grier Williams School of Music over the last 10 years.

“Larry’s heart belonged to music, and he knew its ability to connect people,” Peggy said. “He would be so happy to see our community’s dedication to the arts and how we’re helping the next generation of musicians through the Larry Butler Memorial Scholarship at UWF.”

Larry Butler worked with renowned recording artists Johnny Cash and Kenny Rogers, among others, during his career in Nashville, and he displayed his generosity by holding various benefit concerts for his hometown and Northwest Florida.

The Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival has been held annually for the last 41 years. The event hosts Grammy Award-winning and rising stars, who perform original songs in multiple locations in the greater Pensacola area. It attracts over 200 songwriters and thousands of attendees from all around the world.

For more information about giving to UWF, visit uwf.edu/give.

For more information about UWF’s Dr. Grier Williams School of Music, visit uwf.edu/music.