City of Philadelphia - File #: 090248

• File #: 090248
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 3/26/2009
• In control: CITY COUNCIL
• Final action: 3/26/2009
• Title: Honoring the life of Edward Burke.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Kenney, Councilmember Greenlee, Councilmember O'Neill, Councilmember DiCicco, Councilmember Goode, Council President Verna, Councilmember Reynolds Brown, Councilmember Blackwell, Councilmember Clarke, Councilmember Krajewski, Councilmember Miller, Councilmember Jones, Councilmember Tasco, Councilmember Kelly

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
3/26/2009	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED
3/26/2009	0	CITY COUNCIL	READ
3/26/2009	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced	Pass

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, Irela...