Banker Spencer Butterfield is believed to be the namesake of Spencer Street

At one point in time, Spencer Butterfield was Las Vegas' Man of the Year, working as the president of a new bank and serving the community on many boards.

"He was a wonderful man," said Selma Bartlett, a Henderson resident and former colleague of Butterfield. "He would do anything for anybody."

Butterfield - often referred to in articles and by friends as Spence or S.L. Butterfield - is believed to live on in name of Spencer Street, which stretches through parts of Henderson and Las Vegas.

Butterfield was born Feb. 11, 1904, in Marseilles, Ill. He ventured to Nevada to attend college at the University of Nevada, Reno.

After graduating in 1926, Butterfield worked for the Bank of Sparks until 1934. He then worked for First National Bank of Nevada in Reno.

In 1941, he moved to the Basic Townsite, which later became Henderson, to work at First National Bank.

While living in Basic, he married Georgia Hanna on May 6, 1944.

In 1947, he became president of First National Bank, which is where he met Bartlett.

"I came out here in 1954 and went to work for him," Bartlett said.

That year, he was named Las Vegas' Man of the Year for his achievements in the community, according to a Las Vegas Review-Journal article.

Butterfield served as president of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce. He also sat on the board for the Southern Nevada Power Co. and was involved with the Rotary Club and the Las Vegas Press Club.

According to the Review-Journal, Butterfield was instrumental in organizing the Southern Nevada Industrial Foundation.

Butterfield died Aug. 17, 1960. He was 56. He was survived by his wife, who died in 1978.

Mark Hall-Patton, the administrator of Clark County Museums, believes Spencer Street was named for Butterfield.

"Looking at the time period, it makes the most sense," Hall-Patton said. "He was very active in the community."

Bartlett said Butterfield lived in a subdivision where she believes Spencer Street first started near Charleston Boulevard.

"That's when (the street) first developed," Bartlett said. "He lived in that area, so it makes sense."

Contact Henderson/Anthem View reporter Michael Lyle at mlyle@viewnews.com or 387-5201.