Page 28 - South Mississippi Living - January, 2021

“He’s a ‘quiet giant’ with a
big heart when it comes to
giving back to his community.
— Becky Ginn
”
Face of Giving
Butch Oustalet
A New Orleans transplant who came to South Mississippi 51 years ago, Butch Oustalet, 72, opened his heart to this area
and has made a positive impact on business and the community. Many non-pro t leaders see him as the face of giving.
“Butch and I worked on many campaigns through my 18 years with the American Heart Association,” says Becky Ginn, who now serves as Development Director of the Gulf of Mexico Alliance. “Because of the hereditary heart issues in his family, Butch has always worked hard to make the public aware of making healthy choices and how important it is to raise funds for Heart research.”
Ginn points out that Oustalet has been Heart Walk Chairman twice, Heart Ball Chairman, and his entire family was honored one year at the Heart Ball where the Heart Association raised $250,000 for Heart Research.
“These are just some of the things he has done for the good of the community. When it comes to giving back, he is always doing for others behind the scenes and doesn’t often talk about it,” Ginn added. “His motto has always been: if it’s the right thing to do, don’t wait for someone else to step up, just do it.”
Bacot McCarty Foundation Executive Director Todd Trenchard says Oustalet has quietly done so much for so many. “He is an iconic gure in South Mississippi, and we have been blessed to work with him on numerous projects, including his donation of a cottage at the Home of Grace.”
Other of Oustalet’s philanthropic endeavors, Trenchard says, are hosting a dinner reception for the Foundation, his e orts with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Boy Scouts, and his love of developing young leadership.
Oustalet himself says, “God has blessed me in so many ways. I can never out bless him. I give where God tells me to give.” He especially likes helping organizations involving children.
Those include the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, St. James and St. Vincent dePaul schools, LSU and USM where he was honored to fund ve professorships, and the Emeril Lagasse Foundation.
He lists building the cottage for eight men at the Home of Grace as dear to his heart. “I named it for my good friend, Dr. Rick Peden, who meant a lot to me.”
Oustalet thinks people might be surprised to learn that he’s involved in prison ministry. “I believe people should get second chances.”
When not working, he enjoys watching old movies. “They’re classy and sophisticated, and I like the way they dress up.”
His business career began with his father, who was a successful car dealer and insisted that Butch – the oldest of seven children – work from the ground up, beginning as a service greeter. From there Butch Oustalet progressed, working for his father and a Mobile dealership before buying his own dealership in 1984. “My dad asked if I wanted to buy his dealership and gave me a week to come up with $600,000.
I lied and said I had the money,” he confesses. “I raised the money and bought him out.”
The rest, as they say, is history as Butch Oustalet became a leader in South Mississippi automobile dealerships.
Butch Oustalet Inc.
9274 US 49, Gulfport, MS www.butchoustaletford.com 228.863.5525
“There is no one ner in South Mississippi.
— Todd Trenchard
”
28 | January 2021 www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living