Illinois State University will rename a suite at CEFCU Arena in honor of Andy Butler.
Butler was one of the so-called "Redbird 7" who died in a plane crash on April 7, 2015, while returning home from the NCAA college basketball championship game in Indianapolis. The seven men are permanently memorialized outside the north entrance of CEFCU Arena, along with a plaque on the concourse.
ISU Athletics attributes the change to a group of donors and friends, who raised money to have the suite renamed in Butler's honor.
Butler was a 1996 ISU grad and was known as an avid Redbird sports fan.
“Andy was the ultimate Redbird fan. Everyone knew of his love for the Redbirds and his ability to connect people,” said ISU interim athletics director Jeri Beggs. “We couldn’t be happier to honor Andy’s Redbird spirit with the naming of the Andy Butler Suite. Generations to come will cheer on the Redbirds in the Andy Butler Suite.”
Butler was a sales manager for Sprint Nextel. He also served on the ISU Athletics Board that is now the Weisbecker Athletic Fund.
The ISU board of trustees approved the change at its last meeting.
