Plymouth High School student Molly Trepanier interviews retired Green Bay Packer LeRoy Butler on Dec. 2 during a kickoff for the annual National Honor Society Food Drive.
Posted December 5, 2022
Plymouth High School senior Molly Trepanier, president of the school National Honor Society chapter, wanted to do something special to increase participation in the annual food drive.
So she worked with the Sargento Touchdowns for Hunger program to have retired Packer safety LeRoy Butler speak to the entire student body Dec. 2.
“LeRoy Butler was an incredible opportunity to bring in, especially with his impressive achievements and his inspiring story,” Molly said. “I hope that by listening to him speak, students will be inspired to work for their own achievements and to give back to the community.”
The assembly started with highlights from Mr. Butler’s NFL career and video taken when he learned he would be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame. Then he candidly answered questions from Molly for the better part of an hour.
Mr. Butler told students that he grew up in poverty in Jacksonville, Fla., and benefitted from things like food drives. He remembered his mother telling him that people who didn’t know them still helped them, which is part of why he gives back now.
“There’s going to be another LeRoy Butler, and they’re going to benefit from what you’re doing,” he said. “I’m excited to be here to help kick it off.”
NHS hopes to collect 7,500 items during the drive, which runs from Dec. 5 to 13. The top classes will receive a treat, and there are several all-school incentives along the way.
Mr. Butler spent his entire NFL career (1990–2001) with the Green Bay Packers and is credited with inventing the Lambeau Leap. He said he had three occasions to go to another team but chose to stay in Green Bay because it has the “best fan base.”
He gave an emphatic yes answer to a question about whether it is easy for NFL players to make a difference (which he rewarded with an autographed Hall of Fame card). “Just wake up and do it,” he said. “Be a nice person. You don’t have to give one million dollars. Just give your time. It only takes a few minutes to change lives.”
In response to a question about his biggest challenge growing up, Mr. Butler said it was being picked on because he was a poor kid who wore hand-me-downs. He just wanted to go to school and learn. But he chose to be happy and eventually won some of the bullies over with humor.
His favorite subject in school was physical education – he had wanted to learned to play volleyball and soccer, but didn’t know the rules. So he looked forward to gym class, where he learned about those sports and others, like lacrosse. He also enjoyed the social sciences, and encouraged students to talk about their problems and to seek help when needed.
Asked to give advice to the students, Mr. Butler talked about the value of teachers – “the smartest people,” according to his mother. As a fifth-grader, he already had dreams of playing in the NFL but had a learning disability and wasn’t keen on reading, until a teacher pointed out that there would be a playbook he would have to read and know.
“Teachers can help you become who you want to be,” he said. “Teachers are going to give you the info to process what you want to be when you grow up.” You don’t have to get straight As, but you do have to try – teachers will help those who try, he said.
Mr. Butler was especially grateful to his high school history teacher, who worked with Florida State to have him admitted despite his SAT scores. “I don’t know how I would have turned out without college, so I owe her a lot,” he said. “I never wake up a day and don’t pray for teachers.”
Riverview Middle School also is conducting its annual Food & Supply Drive, from Dec. 5 to 16. Students are encouraged to bring in non-perishable items (no glass jars) and hygiene items. Every $1 donated will count as a food item. The winning classes will get a treat.
• Explore the Community Engagement section of our interactive, award-winning District Report Card to learn more about how our students give back to the community.
