Title
Honoring the life of Edward Burke.
Body
WHEREAS, Edward Burke, the legendary basketball coach, passed away at the age of 63 on March 23, 2009; and
WHEREAS, Edward Burke was a man committed to excellence, devoted to coaching and dedicated to his family; and
WHEREAS, As a student at Saint Joseph’s Preparatory, Burke came into the Philadelphia basketball scene and led his team to the Catholic League title in 1962 and won the scoring title the next season; and
WHEREAS, After graduating from the Prep, Burke went on to play three seasons at La Salle University before tearing his knee during senior year; and
WHEREAS, After graduating from college, Burke returned to his alma mater as coach of the freshman team. By the end of that year, he was coaching the varsity team and eventually led the Prep to the league title in 1971; and
WHEREAS, The following year, Burke had the rare distinction of coaching a different team to the Catholic League Championship, leading St. Thomas More to the title and then the City Championship. For that victory, he won league Coach of the Year honors for the second straight season. Burke stayed at St. Thomas More until the school closed in 1975. He then moved to Bishop McDevitt for a year and West Catholic for a season before taking the men’s head coach basketball position at Drexel University; and
WHEREAS, At Drexel University, Burke built the basketball program, helping it emerge from the shadows of the Philadelphia Big Five. In 1986, Drexel won the East Coast Conference Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament along with three other city schools. Burke, who has the second most wins in Drexel history (207), was also the ECC Coach of the Year that season; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his career, Burke was a regular on the clinic speaking circuit, spreading his love for basketball throughout the region; and
WHEREAS, During the mid-1980s, Burke served as an advisor to Team West in Ballina County Mayo, Ireland. The purpose was to help foster relations between Northern and Southern Ireland. For Burke, it held immense emotional ties as it was also the birthplace of his father, Peter Burke; and
WHEREAS, Burke returned to the Prep in 1992, where he coached for seven seasons. He also served as the school’s Director of Alumni Relations, a position he held until he retired in 2004; and
WHEREAS, During his long and distinguished career, Burke has earned many honors. At the Prep, he won nearly every award given to an alumnus or an employee, including the Ignatian Award and the Schnorr Service Award. Additionally, the Roman Catholic Alumni Association presented Burke an award for his service to the Philadelphia Catholic League; and
WHEREAS, For the past five years, Burke has run Burke’s Inn, a family-owned tavern in Havertown. During retirement, Burke also volunteered his time with St. Joseph’s Preparatory Development staff and the school’s Alumni Board of Governors; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council does hereby honor the life of Edward Burke.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Elizabeth Ann “B.A.,” the wife of Edward Burke, as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
End