Sergeant Buttram is a 21 year veteran of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Professionally, he serves as zone commander of Zone 5, which includes the Lake of the Ozarks. He is active with the Troop F SWAT team as a crisis negotiator. Sergeant Buttram serves on the Lake Area Child Death Review Board and is a charter member of the Lake Area Sexual Assault Response Team.
In addition, Sergeant Buttram is an accomplished speaker. He speaks regularly at area high schools and takes part in programs such as Project P.A.S.S. (Parents Assisting Students for Success) and B.A.C.K.U.P. (Being a Cool Kid Under Pressure), which is a drug education program. Sergeant Buttram teaches language arts classes, participates in career fairs and local docudramas and provides driver education classes. Annually, he meets with the area school transportation departments to review policy changes and route safety concerns and talks to their drivers about safety.
Sergeant Buttram volunteers for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. He is a Camdenton High School soccer, band and choir booster member. He is active in his community as a youth coach for basketball, soccer, wrestling and baseball, and is a member of the Jaycees and Lions Club. He is an active member of Community Christian Church in Camdenton by participating in the church choir, men's group and assisting in church missions.
It is the feeling of the board of The MASTERS that Sergeant Richard E. Buttram embodies what this Public Service Award represents. His actions are a credit to himself and to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.