Former Richmond mayor and longtime councilmember Tom Butt was named one of UCLA Alumni Affairs’ 2025 Bruin Excellence in Civic Engagement honorees, recognizing alumni who make a lasting impact through civic leadership, public service, and community engagement.
Butt served 28 years on the Richmond City Council, including eight years as mayor. In addition to civic leadership, he was credited as a respected voice for historic preservation, founding and serving on three nonprofit organizations dedicated to preserving Richmond’s and California’s architectural heritage. His national influence earned him the Louise du Pont Crowninshield Award, the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s highest honor.
Reflecting on the honor, Butt shared that his connection to UCLA dates back more than half a century.
“I attended graduate school at UCLA from 1971 to 1973, receiving a Master’s Degree in Architecture and Urban Design,” Butt said. “Having just left the Army the previous year, I used the GI Bill to pay for it, and Shirley worked to support us.”
While a graduate student, Butt also founded Interactive Resources, an architecture and engineering firm that remains a cornerstone of Richmond’s business community. He noted he hasn’t returned to the UCLA campus since launching the business, which is celebrating its 52nd anniversary this year.
Before his time at UCLA, Butt served in the U.S. Army as a combat engineer in Vietnam, an experience that informed his lifelong commitment to public service.
Butt will join other honorees at a UCLA reception on Oct. 15, celebrating alumni who, in the words of UCLA Alumni Affairs, “find solutions to today’s civic issues and improve the quality of life in our communities.”
Other 2025 honorees include UCLA alumni serving in public office, education, community leadership, and nonprofit service across the country.
For more information about the 2025 Bruin Excellence in Civic Engagement Awards and the full list of honorees, visit UCLA Alumni Affairs.
