State Sen. Tom Butler has been recognized on the national stage as his decades-long career in public service nears its final chapter.

Butler (R-Madison), a pharmacist and longtime lawmaker representing Madison County, was named the 2026 recipient of the Hubert H. Humphrey Award by the American Pharmacists Association. The award, established in 1978, honors pharmacists who have made significant contributions through government and legislative service.

He received the award during the APhA Annual Convention in Los Angeles, where pharmacy leaders from across the country gathered to recognize excellence in the profession.

“Senator Butler exemplifies the vital role pharmacists can play beyond the pharmacy counter,” an APhA representative said. “His leadership and legislative impact have improved lives across Alabama and serve as a model for pharmacist involvement in public policy.”

Butler has spent more than 30 years in the Alabama Legislature, serving in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Over that time, he has been a consistent advocate for expanding healthcare access, supporting veterans, strengthening public education funding and increasing the availability of automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, in communities statewide.

“It has been a privilege to serve both my patients and the people of Alabama,” Butler said. “This award is a testament to the importance of pharmacists’ voices in shaping policies that impact public health.”

The recognition comes as Butler prepares to retire from public office at the end of his current term in 2026, closing out a career that began in the Alabama House in 1982. He later served in the Senate from 1994 to 2010 before returning to the chamber in 2018 after switching parties.

A graduate of The University of Alabama and Auburn University, Butler has also built a career in both community and hospital pharmacy, bridging his professional expertise with public policy.

The Hubert H. Humphrey Award is considered one of the highest honors in the pharmacy profession, recognizing individuals whose work has shaped healthcare policy and expanded the role of pharmacists in improving patient outcomes.

As Butler’s time in the Legislature comes to a close, the national recognition highlights the impact of a career that has spanned both healthcare and public service in North Alabama and beyond.