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Remembering Ron Burton
(written 9/14/2003)

When you're the "first of" something, people will always remember you for that. But when you take such a designation and make so much more of it, you will never be forgotten. That is the story of Ron Burton, the first ever draft pick of the then Boston Patriots. Burton passed away over the weekend after a long struggle with cancer.

There are and will be many tributes to Burton, and they will tell his story much better than I ever could. Consistent with the way Ron Burton lived his life, he made a difference in the lives of many people, including myself. I had the pleasure of meeting him twice in my life, and they are both times I look back on fondly.

The first time I met him, I was a sophomore in high school, many moons ago. As the winner of the Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership award from my high school, I attended a weekend seminar at Boston College. For a kid from western Massachusetts who didn't get out much, it was a great experience. Among workshops and activities, there were many speakers. Though I wasn't a football fan, the only speaker I remember by name was Ron Burton. I remember his presence and demeanor - soft spoken, but firm. You wanted to listen to what he had to say, and we all did. Hearing about his eponymous training village for kids, I thought it was both an amazing program and somewhat scary for a young kid to be exposed to that much discipline. However as I grew up and "got out" more into the real world, I quickly learned of the value his program had on society.

Fast forward from the 80's to 2001. It was a Friday night in May, and his son, Ron Burton, Jr., an executive with the Red Sox, was receiving one of the Ten Outstanding Young Leader (TOYL) awards. The Boston Jaycees presented the awards annually, and I was proud to be the president of the Jaycees at that time. When I met his son I, now a big football fan, had asked him if his father was to be attending that night. Unfortunately he wasn't, as coincidentally he was receiving an award of his own across town. But Ron Jr. had asked if he could accept his award last, as his father may show up later. As with most award program, they tend to go over scheduled time, and this allowed his father to see his son receive the award, the same award he himself won back in 1967.

During the son's speech, he asked if his father was there, and a shout came from the back of the ballroom of the Seaport Hotel in Boston. He then called his father to come up to the stage, and the audience cheered. We were all honored to be in his presence, and surprisingly shocked as well. Most had known about Burton, Sr.'s fight with cancer. However, we saw a man who looked amazingly well. He went to the platform and spoke a few words, and acknowledged his condition, thanking a new set of doctors who had helped turn him around. Once again, there was this man, captivating the audience he was speaking to, soft spoken, but firm. He was once again an inspiration, in what he said and how he looked, especially to me, as my own mother was ill at the time.

At the conclusion of the award ceremonies, I introduced myself to Burton, told him of the last time I met him and thanked him for all he has done in the community. This picture of me with him was taken that night.

When I woke up the morning of the Patriots / Eagles game and heard the news, I was saddened. I saw his life story on WBZ, the very station where his son, Steve Burton, is a sports reporter. While remembering the times I met him, I turned on my computer and wrote this piece. I didn't know exactly what I would write when I started it, but as I finished, I realized I didn't consult my copy of the Patriots' media guide once. For Ron Burton was football, and a whole lot more. And with how the game is played today, his model serves as an inspiration.