By Van De Putte                                        H.R. No. 367
       74R4586 KMP-D
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The passing of Sean Burke on April 14, 1994, at the
    1-2  age of 73, has brought a great loss to the friends, relatives, and
    1-3  admirers of this remarkable community and spiritual leader; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, Dr. Burke was born in Dublin, Ireland, on January
    1-5  29, 1921, in the midst of that country's turbulent conflict, which
    1-6  in December 1921 would lead to the creation of an autonomous Irish
    1-7  Free State; and
    1-8        WHEREAS, Growing up in a newly independent nation, Dr. Burke
    1-9  was deeply influenced by his countrymen's search for a new national
   1-10  and cultural identity; as an idealistic young man, he attended
   1-11  Blackrock College and the Belmont School of Philosophy before
   1-12  leaving the Emerald Isle for Canada, where he received his doctoral
   1-13  degree in philosophy at Laval University in Quebec and taught at
   1-14  Marianapolis College, Laval University, and St. Francis Xavier
   1-15  University; and
   1-16        WHEREAS, Realizing his dream of moving to the United States,
   1-17  Dr. Burke studied at the Catholic University of America in
   1-18  Washington, D.C., and served as a logic instructor for the
   1-19  prisoners at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary in Kansas during the
   1-20  early 1950s; and
   1-21        WHEREAS, In 1955, this fine gentleman joined the staff at
   1-22  Incarnate Word College in San Antonio, where he was to teach for
   1-23  nearly four decades; on August 11 of the same year, Dr. Burke was
   1-24  united in marriage with the former Margaret Gardiner in a ceremony
    2-1  held at St. Francis di Paola Catholic Church; and
    2-2        WHEREAS, During his tenure at Incarnate Word College, this
    2-3  esteemed educator inspired generations of students to pursue
    2-4  academic and personal excellence, both in the classroom and over
    2-5  the airwaves; as the host of "Meet the Professor," which aired on
    2-6  KMOL-TV each week for 22 years, Dr. Burke led classroom-style
    2-7  discussions with a panel of students and guests and addressed
    2-8  topics ranging from philosophy and theology to community
    2-9  involvement; and
   2-10        WHEREAS, Named professor emeritus of the Incarnate Word
   2-11  College philosophy department in 1992, Dr. Burke took a personal
   2-12  interest in the future of his students and of the college itself;
   2-13  he was a charter member of the school's development board and a
   2-14  founding member of the University Round Table of San Antonio; and
   2-15        WHEREAS, In recognition for his outstanding work in behalf of
   2-16  the Catholic Church, Dr. Burke was designated a Knight of St.
   2-17  Gregory by Pope Paul VI in 1973 and was later elevated by Pope John
   2-18  Paul II to the rank of Knight Commander; and
   2-19        WHEREAS, This exceptional individual also was known to the
   2-20  Irish community of San Antonio as a leader and mentor who devoted
   2-21  much of his life to preserving Irish culture for future generations
   2-22  of Texans; a proud member of the Irish Cultural Society, Dr. Burke
   2-23  cofounded the Harp and Shamrock Society of Texas and for 29 years
   2-24  wrote a St. Patrick's Day column for the San Antonio Express-News;
   2-25  and
   2-26        WHEREAS, An outstanding scholar, a devout Catholic, a
   2-27  dedicated leader in the community, and a devoted husband, Dr. Burke
    3-1  brought unwavering commitment to every facet of his life; loved and
    3-2  respected by his friends, he will be long remembered by the many
    3-3  people whose lives he touched during his years on this earth; now,
    3-4  therefore, be it
    3-5        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
    3-6  Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Dr. Sean Burke and
    3-7  extend deepest sympathy to the members of his family:  to his wife,
    3-8  Margaret Burke; to his daughter, Eileen Burke-Faught; to his
    3-9  son-in-law Wayne C. Faught; to his sisters, Kathleen Keane and Peg
   3-10  Reidy; to his uncle, James Burke; to his cousins, Elizabeth
   3-11  Burke-Kobell and Priscilla Freeland; and to his many other friends
   3-12  and relatives; and, be it further
   3-13        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   3-14  prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
   3-15  House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
   3-16  Dr. Sean Burke.