Adrian Burk, one of only five players to throw seven touchdowns in a single game, died on July 28. Cause of death was not released. He was 75.
Burk was an All-American in 1949 and threw for over 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns at Baylor University.
From 1951 to 1956, he played quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles. During the 1954 season, Burk tied the record for the most touchdown passes in a single game. The only other players to match this feat were: Sid Luckman, Chicago, 1943; George Blanda, Houston, 1961; Y.A. Tittle, New York, 1962; and Joe Kapp, Minnesota, 1969.
After his pro career ended, Burk joined the Houston law firm of Vinson & Elkins, and spent his weekends working as a football official. Burk refereed the longest playoff game ever between Kansas City and Miami in 1971, and the Immaculate Reception game between Pittsburgh and Oakland in 1972.
He also served as the general counsel to the Houston Oilers, where he was credited with signing Heisman Trophy winner Billy Cannon, the Houston Oilers' first player.
Posted on August 1, 2003 12:40 AMI come from a longtime Baylor family that went to football games in the 40's and 50's. Since we lived in Dallas I tended to root for SMU and its Doak Walker, Kyle Rote, and others. My father a BU grad rooted for BU.
We went to an SMU-BU game in Waco in the late 40's. All I remember besides the fact that Burk and BU soundly thrashed SMU was the first play of the game by BU. On the first play Burk took the snap and made a long pass to someone for a touchdown. BU never looked back and I was very upset.
Later I went to BU where there were good quarterbacks such as Don Trull, Ronnie Stanley, and others, but I never felt I saw anything like Adrian Burk.
Posted by Charles Guittard on October 13, 2005 12:51 PMIn his "retirement", Adrian Burk became a missionary of the Southern Baptist Convention. He and his wife served as curators of the Center for Missions and Training at the Luther Rice Homesite in Northborough, MA. (Luther Rice was an early 19th century Baptist missionary, educator, publisher, and organizer.)
I visited there twice and found Adrian Burk to be a very friendly and humble man. He took his responsibilites very seriously. He could be fairly described as a Christian gentleman.
Posted by Robert R. Hudson on January 27, 2006 3:48 PMIn 1953, I played for the Pine Bluff, Arkansas "Judges" in the Cotton States League. The Monroe, Louiseana Sprots had a first baseman named Adrian Burke and guys told me that he was the Quarterback of the Eagles. I got to know Adrian during that year and found him to be a great competitor. He was playing baseball to keep in shape for the NFL.
Posted by FRANK CALLIHAN on January 22, 2007 4:44 PMI got to know Adrian and his wife NevaNell in the late 1980's when he came to North Berwick, Maine on the weekends to pastor a little church I was a part of. Adrian is one of the kindest,humblest, sincerest men I have ever known. He married my wife and I in 1991 and I will never forget the impact he had on myself and my wife. I look forward to seeing him again in Heaven!
Posted by Dan Hett on November 17, 2007 6:21 PM