Distinguished Alumni Awards Presentation
Southwestern University
The Rev. Dr. Harold D. Burkhardt
Many of you know that Burky graduated from Southwestern University in 1949 with his undergraduate degree. For all these many years, he participated at the university, which he dearly loved attending yearly events.
Some examples of these annual events and initiatives are: Symposiums with outstanding speakers such as Jane Goodall, Bishop Tutu, and others; inaugurations of four presidents on the campus; the driving of his 1968 Mustang convertible in homecoming parades; establishment of a music scholarship; special dinners; picnics on the mall; tailgating; but, most of all, catching up with cherished friends and outstanding faculty.
His alma mater honored him with the 2022 Distinguished Humanitarian Award, awarded to alumni who have impacted the human race by their actions.
In January, Burky received this news and at once wrote his two-minute speech. The presentation would have taken place on the campus in Georgetown, Texas on February 4, 2022. However, the winter storm of ice and snow in Central Texas automatically postponed the ceremony.
Plans changed to Summer 2022 for the celebration of the Awards Program, which is now a pre-recorded video presentation following the same program of an in-person event, honoring all five recipients simultaneously. Due to Burky’s passing in April, his daughter, Dr. Rebecca Burkhardt, Ph.D.—a 1980 SU graduate—will read her Dad’s speech.
The 2022 Distinguished Alumni Awards video originally aired on Wednesday, June 29 at 7:00 PM.
Click here to watch the event.
Lovingly,
Patricia F. Burkhardt
