| Dr.
Edmund R. Burke earned his doctorate at The Ohio State University. He
earned his master’s and bachelor’s degrees at Ball State University. All
of his degrees were centered in exercise science and physiology. While
at Ball State, Dr. Burke was mentored by the eminent exercise
physiologist, David L. Costill. Dr. Burke also studied alongside other
famous 20th century physiologists at respected institutions such as the
Ohio State University Work Physiology Lab and the Karolinska Institute
in Stockholm, Sweden. Much
like his mentors and associates, Dr. Burke gained worldwide renown.
Professionals in the fields of exercise physiology, nutrition and
medicine are familiar with his exceptional work ethic and reputation as
an author, scientist and educator. His 39 page curriculum vitae speaks
for itself as it reveals some of his outstanding career accomplishments,
including over 1,000 articles and many book chapters and books that he
wrote and published in the areas of health, sport science and applied
physiology. He served as Coordinator of Sports Sciences for the U. S.
Cycling Team leading up to the Olympic Games in 1996 and was a staff
member for the 1980 and 1984 Olympic Cycling Teams.
He was also a great athlete himself.
He enjoyed riding his road and mountain bikes and hiking in the
mountains of Colorado. He competed in the Pikes Peak marathon, trekked
into Everest Base camp, competed three times in the Leadville 100 mile
mountain bike race, the Iditabike (a 100 mile bike race in February in
Alaska) and the solo division in the 24 Hours of Moab.
Dr. Burke was a tenured professor
and the director of the Exercise Science program at the University of
Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS). This is where I came to know him as
I was pursuing my master’s degree in exercise science. In addition to
being one of my instructors at UCCS, he was also a member of my master’s
thesis committee. Once I finished my master’s program and began working
on my Ph.D., he gladly accepted an invitation to be a part of my
Doctoral Committee.
Throughout my graduate education,
Dr. Burke had a tremendous influence on my thinking. Perhaps more than
anyone else, he helped me to develop my philosophy of applied physiology
and health informatics. In my opinion, he was the greatest physiology
and health informatician of all time. He was well known for his unique
ability to effectively communicate scientific information to the
layperson.
Unfortunately, on November 7, 2002,
Dr. Burke passed away. He was survived by his wonderful wife Kathleen
Rand Burke. She played a central role in helping him to reach his
crowning achievements, and continues to do everything she can to make
his legacy known by as many people as possible.
While he is no longer here, he is still an
important part of my ongoing education. His integral contributions to my
doctoral program are a good example of this. He gave me the initial idea
for my dissertation research project and for my internship. In this
Internship, Dr. Burke and I co-developed and co-taught the first
completely online Biology course (i.e., Biology 114: Introduction to
Health and Exercise Science) at the University of Colorado at Colorado
Springs.
Knowing him and having him as a
mentor was truly one of my greatest honors. Dr. Edmund "Ed" R. Burke was
a great physiologist, athlete, teacher, author, friend and mentor. I am
privileged to have spent time working with him through my master's and a
good part of my ongoing doctoral program. His influence on my career and
my personal life is indelible. For as long as I live, he will be in my
heart and in my work.
-
William L. Elliott
William L. Elliott and Edmund R.
Burke, 2002 |
