[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 85 (Friday, June 18, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1176]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
A TRIBUTE TO AL BURCH
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HON. FRANK R. WOLF
of virginia
in the house of representatives
Friday, June 18, 2004
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Al Burch, who has
served northern Virginia as an educator for 42 years. Mr. Burch spent
32 years as the principal of Bishop O'Connell High School in Arlington,
Virginia. After over four decades of dedicated service to our youths,
Mr. Burch announced his retirement earlier this month.
I am proud to call attention to the achievements and dedication of
Mr. Burch as he ends his career as an educator and principal. I would
also like to share a recent article from The Arlington Catholic Herald
which honors Mr. Burch and describes his many accomplishments.
[From the Arlington Catholic Herald, May 20, 2004]
Forty-Two-Year Run Comes to an End for O'Connell's Burch
(By Mary Frances McCarthy)
In 2001, at the beginning of his 40th year at Bishop
O'Connell High School in Arlington, Principal Al Burch told
the Herald, ``In about two or three years I'll be ready to
retire.''
Three years later, the O'Connell family is saying goodbye
to Burch, a much-loved and respected coach and administrator
who has worked at the school for all but four years of its
existence. A farewell Mass and party will be held at the
school on June 5 at 5 p.m.
When his career began, Burch never imagined he would spend
32 years as an administrator.
After graduating from the University of Corpus Christi in
Texas with a bachelor's degree in education, Burch thought
that ``Everyone would hire me because I was so good at
sports.'' Burch attended the university on a football
scholarship.
When coaching jobs didn't fall at his feet as he thought
they would, he took a job at Surrattsville Junior High in
Clinton, Md., teaching history, science and English.
In 1961, Burch learned of an opening in physical education
at O'Connell through Bob Rusevlyan, athletic director. Burch
took the job, teaching health and physical education and
coaching football, baseball and basketball. Under his
leadership, the O'Connell 1963-65 baseball teams were
Catholic League champions and gained nationwide recognition
in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, for winning
42 consecutive games.
Coinciding with the beginning of co-education at Bishop
O'Connell, Burch was named assistant principal under Msgr.
McMurtrie in 1972.
``I owe a lot to Msgr. McMurtrie,'' Burch said. ``He saw it
was my dream to keep coaching, but he saw something in me
that maybe I didn't see.''
While Burch was assistant principal, coaching three sports
and raising three kids, he went back to school to get a
master's degree in education at American University. ``And I
still haven't slept well since then,'' Burch said.
His coaching career ended in 1977, when he was named
principal of O'Connell by former Arlington Bishop Thomas J.
Welsh.
In the first 10 years Burch was at O'Connell, the school
grew from 1,000 students to 1,600 students, with a wait list
200 students long. In 1982, Bishop Welsh opened Paul VI
Catholic High School to ease the strain on O'Connell.
Now, in a diocese with three diocesan high schools and
three private Catholic high schools, Burch said, ``The
chemistry of O'Connell is what makes it different.'' With
more than 110 teachers, 12 are Sisters of the Immaculate
Heart of Mary, 18 are retired military personnel and 28 are
O'Connell graduates. Burch said he has prided himself by
being able to ``put talent where they belong.''
``Surrounding myself with great people has been the key to
my success,'' he said. ``Sitting back and watching them work
has been a joy.''
To Burch, O'Connell's teachers are all first draft
teachers. He has organized his school much like he would a
baseball or football team. Only the best are good enough for
him.
``That chemistry, and people who want to be here, I'm proud
of that,'' Burch said. ``We've been able to maintain that we
are a Catholic school.'' Burch said O'Connell has had more
than 65 alumni who have pursued religious vocations.
Dr. Timothy McNiff, diocesan superintendent of schools,
said that Burch's leadership ``epitomizes the uniqueness
required of those individuals who have been given the task of
ensuring our Catholic schools are institutions of both
academic success and Christian values.''
O'Connell was recognized by the U.S. Department of
Education in 1993 as a Blue Ribbon School and Burch was
honored by The Washington Post in 1997 when he was named a
``Principal of Excellence.''
In his retirement, Burch said, he will miss the students
above all else. ``I enjoy seeing them,'' he said. ``I think
O'Connell comes closer to that term, family. People return to
O'Connell. They're very happy here.''
Burch looks forward to continuing his relationship with
Bishop O'Connell High School and working with the alumni. In
ongoing renovations at O'Connell, he still hopes to see an
Alumni of Distinction hall. ``There are people out there
doing great things.'' O'Connell has over 15,000 graduates.
``They're really making a positive impact on society. I hear
good stuff.''
All three of Burch's children--Kenny, Karen and Kristy--are
among those graduates. Burch hopes that one day, his five
grandchildren, ``if they study and work hard,'' will go to
O'Connell too, and become members of the O'Connell family.
``I consider myself blessed and fortunate,'' Burch said.
``It's been a great job. I didn't have to work to make
O'Connell classy. It's always been a class act.''
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