CHS Boys Varsity Pays Tribute to Billy Burks

The boys of the Columbia High School varsity soccer team will wear black armbands on their uniforms this year. The armbands are in memory of Billy Burks, who died in July at age 54. "Billy was a hall of fame soccer player of Columbia, but also a person who dedicated much time in helping develop the Cougar Soccer Club and youth soccer for many years throughout Maplewood and South Orange," said Jim Madden, CHS '79 and Chairman of the CHS Soccer Alumni Association.

Burks was remembered on Monday at a ceremony at Cameron Field. There, just before the start of the boys first home game, a presentation was made to the Burks family by the Columbia Soccer Alumni organization. Roger Brauchli and Burks spoke movingly of Burks and his commitment to local soccer before presenting family members with a framed jersey bearing number 8, the number Burks wore as a CHS  player. 

Madden has shared the text of a letter he sent to the CHS soccer community: 

Dear Alumni,

It is with deep regret and sorrow that I share with you all, the tragic news of the passing of one of the great players to have ever put on a Columbia uniform, Billy Burks.

Billy was one of the first homegrown products that were developed through the Cougar Soccer Club, even at a time when it wasn't called that.   He was a tenacious and fierce competitor, but he'll be most remembered for his character, relentless will and undeniable courage.   Our heartfelt condolences, our thoughts and prayers go out to his family…he will be truly missed.

For those who came through the Soccer Clinic in South Orange at Cameron Field, we would know that there are but a few people who helped kids as much as Billy did.   To many of us, he was our idol.   We fought over #9 because we wanted to be the next Billy Burks.   He brought such passion and enthusiasm to learning the game that it made you want to practice more, and you'd hope the clinic would never end.   Even as it did, he would offer to stick around and work with us without as much as being asked.   That was the kind of selfless, considerate and committed person he was to "the program", but says so much more as to the man that he would become, and why so many say he became a great teacher later in life.  He had a way of making you feel "ok".   Didn't matter whether you were fat, skinny, tall, short, or slow...Billy would say, "doesn't matter how big you are, or how fast you run, don't let that get in the way of your goals, hey look at me" as he would rub his pudgy belly and give you that unmistakable trademark smile of his.   For impressionable kids, that was gold, coming from Billy, it had to be true, it was something you could believe in, and it helped you stay on course.

Billy was not your prototypical athlete.   What he lacked in size, he made up in passion, what he lacked in stature, he made up with determination and conviction.   The legend of Billy Burks was born in 1973 during the state tournament.   Billy, who would go on to set a school record for goals in State Tournament play, had a performance of which a film could be made.  He scored the game winner against Hackensack in a game in which he was fouled relentlessly and continuously.   In the following match, he was held out due to the injuries that were inflicted upon him from the prior match.  Being unable to play, he watched on as his team was trailing to Morristown 1-0.   Most players would have just sat back and wondered "coulda, woulda, shoulda"…not Billy Burks.   He taped up, and then convinced Mr. C to put him back in the game…and even though Morristown went right after those bandaged ankles, he played on.  He scored 2 goals and Columbia came away with an epic 2-1 victory.

A few years ago, I asked Billy to share that story and his recollections of playing for Columbia as the keynote alumni speaker at the CHS Soccer Dinner. Hearing the story again left Mr.C, Mr. Gavitt, the alumni and the rest of the room, in complete awe of this man. Talking about how he overcame the loss of his father who had been killed during his senior year, he mentioned so many in thanks that helped him and his family through that difficult time, specifically his friends, his coach and his teammates. Not once did he mention "why me?"    It was truly one of the most riveting speeches I've ever heard.

Billy went on to be named the "Man of Essex", an award and recognition of only "the best" the area HS athletes could receive. We elected him to the Columbia Soccer Hall of Fame as we created it...and it was one of the greatest moments in my life, to have the privilege of inducting him and presenting him with his plaque.  We as soccer alumni of Columbia, were so fortunate that Billy always came back each year for the alumni game, we were so glad to see him, but then again Billy took such pride in maintaining that connection.   He is, was, and forever will be... Columbia Soccer; his impact and imprint on this program will forever be felt.

We were all fortunate to have known him, and those of us who admired him as a player or a coach, we admired him more as a man. We get to know so few people of his magnitude and stature...and today we have truly lost one of our heroes.   He will be dearly missed, and we will never forget him.

Please take a moment today to remember Billy in your thoughts.