Jenie Lee Burke

November 28, 1902 - October 18, 1991

by Ken Corbett, Kappa Kappa Psi, November 4, 1991

Dr. J. Lee Burke, Jr., a lifelong friend and advocate of Kappa Kappa Psi passed away on October 18, 1991, at the age of 88. Dr. Burke served the Fraternity over a time span of six decades, and we are saddened by this loss.

J. Lee was born in Hobart, Oklahoma in 1902. He attended Ohio State University. In 1929 he received his Bachelor of Science from West Texas State University in Canyon, Texas. He received his Master of Arts in 1933 from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas and in 1961 received his Ph.D. from Burton College.

Throughout his professional career, J. Lee always saved time for fraternal and community involvement. He was a life member of the National Education Association and a life member of the American Association of School Administrators. In 1939 he was the organizing president of the Jal Rotary Club, and a member of many other organizations. Dr. Burke served the Hobbs Municipal Schools from 1930-35, then as Jal School Superintendent from 1935-62. He took some time out during that period to serve in the U. S. Navy from 1942-45. He served as an education consultant in 1963. From 1964-70 he served as president of the College of the Southwest. From 1971-76 Dr. Burke was the Southwest Heritage Poetry editor.

J. Lee was a charter member of the Eta Chapter at Ohio State University having been initiated on April 26, 1923. He attended his first national convention in Oklahoma City in 1923. He served as the third Grand President of the Fraternity during the 1925-27 biennium. Dr. Burke was instrumental in drawing-up the first set of comprehensive by-laws and parliamentary procedures for Kappa Kappa Psi. He has served as the national convention parliamentarian on countless occasions during the past 70 years of the Fraternity’s existence. Dr. Burke was named National Chapter Parliamentarian for Life at the 1973 National Convention. Over the years he skillfully become a master at putting out organizational “brush fires”, and found his way into the hearts of those who knew him. Dr. Burke is a man who has given much of himself to the persons around him. Active involvement in church, civic, and fraternal groups deepened for him the values of fellowship.

In August, 1979, at the 30th Biennial National Convention of the Fraternity, Dr. Burke proposed the establishment of the Kappa Kappa Psi “Bohumil Makovsky Memorial Award” to recognize outstanding college band directors. Fourteen individuals were presented with awards in an initial charter group and beginning with the 1981 National Convention and continuing onward, the National Council was charged with the responsibility of selecting one outstanding director during each biennium. Dr. Burke made a generous donation to the Fraternity to support this award. The Best Chapter Display at the National Convention is also named for Dr. Burke. During the summer of 1991, the National Council created the J. Lee Burke Student Achievement Award to recognize outstanding student members of the Fraternity.

Here are a few comments by Dr. Burke at the 1987 National Convention regarding our past:

I never cease to be amazed at the remarkable and wonderful growth that has come from those little seeds that we planted back there in those years. My first convention was in 1923, that was when your grandfather was born. Kappa Kappa Psi started as a result of a felt need. Little organizations in the various bands were springing up after World War I all over the country. Something was needed to bring them together and to galvanize their actions for the mutual benefit of bands everywhere. And it was my privilege to be in on the very earliest of it. They got the jump on me over here at Oklahoma A & M. When I made my first trip home I met Oscar Lehrer, the Director of Oklahoma University and Bohumil Makovsky, the Director here at Oklahoma A & M, now Oklahoma State. Mr. Lehrer told me about what was going on on their campus and suggested I see my friend Boh and he introduced me to Scott Squyres, our second President. That resulted in his visits shortly thereafter to our campus at Ohio State. But on that visit with Mr. Lehrer and Boh, we agreed that we should have one good national organization rather than two or three regional organizations. As Kappa Kappa Psi then existed it had never been able to get across the Mississippi River, and we helped them across. It’s nice to know that the good intentions of every one of those men lives on in you and it literally does, you gals too now. You see we didn’t have gumption enough to open that door correctly as soon as we came home from the war, WWI. And we’re proud of every member and the unity to which every member belongs.

Dr. Burke attended his last National Convention in 1989 on the campus of Oklahoma State University. We will all miss our friend and brother J. Lee.

     THE FAREWELL (1923)
     by J. L. Burke, Jr.

     (Published in the book of poetry, War Echoes, 1945)

     A friend is gone —
        But honor has remained.

     I grieve for him,
        but powerless to restrain
     the governed thoughts
        his seif-supporting mind
     as judgement as proclaimed,
        his views defined.

     So there is nought
        to say — nor bid him stay
     A lesson learned I hope,
        I’m sure a conscience clear.

     So friend of mine — good-bye,
        I leave you here.

(This poem by J. Lee Burke was chosen by his widow to be included in the church bulletin for his memorial service on October 22 held at the First Baptist Church, Hobbs, New Mexico.)

J. Lee was a member of the marching band from 1920 through 1923. He played Bass Drum. He was the 1985 recipient of the Script Ohio Award.