NATCHEZ —Longtime educator Fred Butcher can never say he did not get his way.

The Sevier High School class of 1967 announced  Saturday the naming of the street between Ferriday High School and Melz Field as Fred T. Butcher Way, in honor of their classmate at their 50-year reunion.

“It was very humbling for me,” Butcher said. “I give so much credit to my wife and family and the people at Ferriday High School. I didn’t make that school great. They made it great.”

Butcher, who was principal of Ferriday High School for more than 20 years before taking leadership positions in Natchez-Adams School District, has spent his career in education.

Doretha Cook, a member of the class of 1967 who has known Butcher since elementary school, said she and others decided they wanted to honor Butcher for all the work he has done for Ferriday High School.

“We appreciated his expertise, concern and care,” Cook said. “Since he’s our classmate, we just wanted to recognize him for all that he did.”

Cook said she presented her idea to name the street to members of the Concordia Parish School Board. The school district owns the road in question.

“Everybody was receptive,” Cook said.

The class of 1967, approximately 25 people, decided to name the street Fred T. Butcher Way.

The initial plan was to announce the naming of the street at Ferriday High School’s homecoming on Oct. 27, but a thunderstorm that evening delayed the announcement.

Cook said she wanted to keep the news secret so they could surprise him, but the news was difficult to hide.

The Concordia Parish School Board had to approve a motion to rename the street, which it did on Oct. 12.

“The committee wants to surprise Mr. Butcher — they’re going to name it at homecoming,” board president Raymond Riley said. “So, nobody tell him.”

Though he is a member of the parish school board, Butcher had to leave that meeting early because of a prior engagement and the members were able vote on the naming out of Butcher’s sight.

After sending meeting minutes out to the board members for approval, Cook said the school had to call Butcher’s wife to make sure he did not see them.

By the time Ferriday High School’s homecoming came around, Cook said she was ready to get the secret off her chest.

“We had struggled trying to keep it a secret,” she said.

Butcher said it worked; he had no idea the honor was coming.

“I was really surprised,” Butcher said.

Butcher said the credit for the work he did at the school should go to the people of Ferriday High school.

“I had a great superintendent, I had a lot of support from parents and a great staff,” Butcher said. “It was more than just a check. We had a good working relationship.”

Now, Cook said, the class is just waiting on the Ferriday City Council to approve the creation of a street sign.

Whenever the sign is complete, Cook said she would organize a ribbon-cutting ceremony for family and friends to celebrate.

“I always say the Lord blessed every person with a special ability regardless of who he or she is,” she said. “His is administration. He is a natural-born administrator.”