The Commemorative Bas-Relief Plaque, Dedicated to Butkų Juzė

The commemorative bas-relief plaque, dedicated to Butkų Juzė, was hung on the wall of the building that stands at the junction of S. Nėries and Butkų Juzės streets. Juozas Butkus (dubbed Butkų Juzė) was a Lithuanian pedagogue, poet, playwright, and journalist.
J. Butkus was born on July 21st, 1893 in the Telšiai district. He graduated from the Gargždai Elementary School and, in 1910, enrolled in the Telšiai Progymnasium. In 1912, Butkus was paralysed from the waist down and could not use his speech organs. After treatment, he had trouble speaking.
In 1917, Butkus graduated from the Lithuanian Voronezh Gymnasium. That same year, he enrolled in the University of Moscow, the Faculty of History and Philology. In 1919, he enrolled in the University of Berlin, and studied in the University of Jena from 1922 until 1924. Starting 1910, J. Butkus cooperated in the press: in Aušrinė, Lietuvos žinios, Naujoji Lietuva (in Russia), Naujienos (in the US), and in the publications of the Klaipėda region. In 1932, Butkus was accepted into the Lithuanian Journalist Union. Furthermore, he lectured in courses for teachers in Palanga, lead courses for adults in Klaipėda and in the Tauragė commercial school. He was also a teacher in the Prienai Gymnasium. Moreover, Butkus wrote short plays, including Palaidūnas (The Prodigal, 1925).
Butkus had several other aliases, such as Bočių atmintojas (the Reminder of Ancestors), Kurtuvėnų savanoris (the Volunteer from Kurtuvėnai), Ginklo draugas (Weapon’s Friend), Šyvinis (Gray), Gumbutis (the Tormentil), Juodlis Širvys (a made up name), among some others. Juozas Butkus died on April 22nd, 1947, in Klaipėda.