Hall of Fame
Charlie Burri ’55
Charlie is a native of St. Joseph. He is graduate of Christian Brothers High School (now Bishop LeBlond High School), the St. Joseph Junior College and Northwest Missouri State University.
Charlie’s first job was as a coach at Mid-Buchanan High School in faucet, MO. In 1967, Dr. MO Looney offered Charlie the position of Athletic Director for the newly formed Missouri Western College. He was also appointed chair of the physical education department, basketball and golf coach. Charlie was also instrumental in helping to form Missouri Western’s first athletic conference – the Central State Intercollegiate Conference.
He bought the first football for Missouri Western, formed the athletic boosters – the Gold Coat Club – and Spratt Memorial Stadium and the Looney Athletic Complex were built during his tenure. Charlie retired in 1984.
He was the first inductee into the Missouri Western Athletic Hall of Fame; chairing that committee until 2012. He was also inducted into the National Association of College Athletic Directors Hall of Fame and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame.
He and his wife, Patti, continue to be active in the St. Joseph community and with the University. They have three children and 10 grandchildren.
