Longtime Purdue Athletic Director Morgan Burke Dies
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowPurdue University is mourning the loss of long-time athletic director Morgan Burke. The university says he died Monday from a rare disease called amyloidosis. He was 68 years old.
Burke was the longest-serving Boilermaker A.D., having held the positions of vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics 1993 to 2016.
During his reign, the football team embarked on a run of 10 bowl games in 12 years from 1997 to 2008. The men’s basketball team achieved a string of back-to-back-to-back Big Ten championships in 1994, 1995 and 1996.
“Morgan left an indelible mark on Purdue Athletics, and thousands of student-athletes benefited from his faithful leadership,” says Purdue President Mitch Daniels. “He was the ultimate competitor, and his passion for the Boilermakers was second to none. He continued to serve the university for the last four years, doing everything he could to strengthen our mission.”
Purdue says Burke earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in West Lafayette and then went on to earn a law degree.
He worked for 18 years for Inland Steel Co., leaving the company as a vice president to take a position with Purdue.
Since retiring as athletics director, Burke was a university vice president for special projects, most notably working on the launch and development of Purdue University Global
Burke is survived by his wife, three children and three grandchildren.