I wanted to take a few minutes to let you know about a person in this community that has done some amazing things for people over the past few years that not many people know about.
Butch Gordo is a friend of mine and a lot of others; he is also a Veteran. You can find Butch Friday and Saturday nights at the WRRA racetrack, with his hotrod the “Black #9”.
That car got its first win last weekend, and you should have seen him smile. You can also find him at the racetrack on other days.
Pulling weeds, picking up other people’s trash and making the place look nice.
Butch goes around Winnemucca and hangs up the signs for the Winnemucca Regional Raceway. Letting people know when the next race is going to happen.
Then, after the races, he goes out and takes down all the signs. Rolls them up and makes sure they are ready for the next race weekend. For the past few years, Butch has purchased some very nice awards for the winners of the races, he spends his own money and tells me not to say anything about who they come from. Well now you all know.
This is all amazing and to know that we have a person like this in our community warms the heart, but this is not why I am letting you get to know Butch.
See, Butch has been doing something for people in Winnemucca for years that has gone somewhat unnoticed and now he is unable to continue to do it anymore.
Butch was teaching anyone that wanted to get a commercial driver’s license how to complete the course required. Not only would he train, study, and encourage his students, if they could not afford it, he would pay for it.
Physicals, Applications, Fees and even lunch to make sure these students succeeded. From my personal experience this is not an easy test, it is difficult, you cannot just go in and take the test and pass.
It takes dedication and study. Butch did this for over 60 people in Winnemucca.
Getting them passed. He would not take a dime. He would not accept any money. He made it clear to anyone that showed any interest in learning how to drive a commercial vehicle that he would help them, and he did.
Then, effective February 7, 2022, all entry-level commercial drivers must complete their training with a training provider listed on the new Federal Training Provider Registry (TPR). (Even a carrier that trains its drivers must be registered on the TPR as a training provider.)
This new law made what Butch was doing obsolete. I don’t want to dwell on how I feel about this “new law”, only that my friend must retire. I was his last student.
I’m glad I passed; I wouldn’t have wanted to let him down and couldn’t have done it without him.
Thank you Butch
Mike Scott
