Butch Voris was born on September 17, 1919, in Los Angeles, California. He worked as a mortician before entering the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Navy on March 1, 1941, and was commissioned an Ensign and designated a Naval Aviator at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, in February 1942. Voris next trained as a dive-bomber pilot before transferring to fighters and joining VF-10 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) in October 1942. He participated in the Battle of Guadalcanal and was credited with the destruction of 1 enemy aircraft in aerial combat before returning to the U.S. and serving at NAS Norfolk, Virginia, from March to May 1943. LT Voris then served with VF-2 aboard the Enterprise and USS Hornet (CV-8) from May 1943 to November 1944, during which time he destroyed another 6 enemy aircraft in the air plus 1 probable, for a total of 7 destroyed and 1 probable in World War II. His next assignment was as Chief Instructor for advanced tactics with the Naval Advanced Training Command at NAS Daytona Beach, Florida, from November 1944 to September 1945, followed by service at NAS Jacksonville, Florida, from September 1945 to June 1947. During this time, CDR Voris formed, trained, and led the Navy Flight Exhibition Team (named the Blue Angels in August 1946) for its first season from April 1946 to May 1947. He attended General Line School at Newport, Rhode Island, from June 1947 to June 1948, and then served as commander of VF-113 at NAS San Diego, California, from July 1948 to January 1950. He next served in the Bureau of Aeronautics at the Pentagon from January 1950 to October 1951, followed by another tour as commander of the Blue Angels from October 1951 to December 1952. He was commander of Carrier Division 5 from December 1952 to June 1954, and then was commander of VF-191 from June 1954 to October 1955. CDR Voris served in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations from October 1955 to September 1957, and then completed additional training before serving as commander of Air Group 5 from December 1957 to December 1958. He was on the staff of the Commander of Naval Air Force Pacific Fleet from December 1958 to July 1961, and then attended Naval War College from July 1961 to June 1962. Capt Voris' final assignment was as Head of the Sea Based Air Striking Forces Section in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, where he served from June 1962 until his retirement from the Navy on July 31, 1963. After retiring from the Navy, Butch worked for the Grumman Corporation from 1963 to 1973, and then with NASA from 1973 until his retirement in 1985. Butch Voris died on August 10, 2005.

His 3rd Distinguished Flying Cross citation reads:

For heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as Pilot of a Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron TWO, attached to the U.S.S. HORNET, during operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Pacific War Area from September 12 to 21, 1944. Completing his fortieth mission during this period, Lieutenant Commander (then Lieutenant) Voris contributed materially to the success of his squadron in carrying out damaging strafing attacks against enemy troops, aircraft, gun positions and shipping. His airmanship and devotion to duty in the face of hostile antiaircraft fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.