Ms. Kathy Roe Buttran was honored today with a room being named after her on the top floor of Hugh Merrill Hall on the campus of Jacksonville State University. Merrill hall was one of the buildings severely damaged from the tornado that struck the JSU campus in 2018.

Senior Philanthropy officer Joseph Munster gave a short introduction thanking the Buttrams for their contributions to the college. Ms. Buttran is a graduate of JSU, She and her husband Dean Buttram Jr. sponsored the building of the team room which is now named after her.

“I’m a proud graduate of JSU and JSU gave me the foundation I needed to build a career in journalism. So I’m particularly excited about what the Department of Communication is doing here, preparing the next generation.”

Ms. Buttran was at the Birmingham News for 10 years moving to The Orlando Sentinel, which was the fifth largest newspaper at the time, where she was on staff for 15 years. She finished her career at the Cherokee County Herald as the Editor in Centre.

Former U.S. Congressman Glen Browder, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1989 to 1996, was in attendance.  “It’s seeing former students’ later in life that you’ve been able to track along the way and to attend events like this Kathy I’m real proud of you.” Ms. Buttram cut the ribbon officially opening the Kathy Row Buttram team room.”