I would have always liked to wrap hi knuckles in duct tape because he wad a dick

Mr. Burks was one of my favorite teachers as well. In his quest to prepare us for college math, he also was looking ahead to our futures in college and in life. I was in his class when he assigned a project so we could see how large a the number 1,000,000 was by collecting a million bottle caps! I also remember Mr. Burks taking us on a math "fieldtrip" to the "main frame" computer system at IU printing out "π" with a million decimals. Great Memories of Mr. Burk will live forever! Mark Sturgis

So sorry for your loss. I remember him teaching when I began my career at Stinesville. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Mr Burks was one of the most challenging teachers I ever had. I put him in my top 2 right along with Dr Perkins, my gross anatomy teacher in graduate school, as far as how much I learned. He was tough, kinda the Bob Knight of math teachers! But he was also there for me during a difficult time my senior year in 1984. He stood up for me when others didn’t and I was always grateful. When I moved back to Bloomington I would see him walking all the time. I stopped and chatted with him. He kept to himself but I’m thankful I had the chance to shake his hand and let him know what a great teacher he was...

Mr. Burke was one of my all time favorite teachers! Our class did also play a prank now and then - remember the locked door with keys taped in the window in 7th grade-I think it was Brad Watkins idea! Anyway - I remember a day I had to miss a test and my absence was not going to be excused. I told him I couldn’t say why but that it was a good reason. He said sit down and take out your calculator and let me take the test then and there. When it really mattered he was always there. Sending happy thoughts to his family - I bet he is holding class in heaven!

Three of my four years of high school, I had Mr. Burks for math.  His classes were always some of the most challenging in the school.   He had a bit of a short fuse and was quick to take students out to the "double doors" for a quick talk.  I always figured that gave us license to do little, hopefully mostly harmless, pranks to needle him.  But I thought, especially as I got older, that maybe he had an adult life that did not go the way he had expected.  I think he had undergone a painful divorce before he was my teacher and I think that might have contributed to his anger in class.   I thought he had a Masters in Math which means he got two very difficult degrees in college, but was in my opinion, under paid.  

     I remember the time he criticized someone for taking too many tissues in class and so we all conspired and everyone brought a box of tissues and piled it on his desk.  To his credit, he said he could take it two ways and he decided to take it as student's being positive instead of kids just trying to push his buttons.

    He practically patented the phrase "In my defense..."

    We also toilet papered his car and once hung up pictures of his face on another teacher's windows.

   I remember he told us of a motorcycle accident that left his with a metal plate and how he would trip airport detectors.

   I will always remember a time when students were up in arms and he pulled me and a friend aside and told us something to the effect that we were the calm collective ones and we needed to counter all the kids who were not.  That will always stay with me.

    My college girlfriend lived in the same apartment building where he did and later his mother lived near my parents.  So there were always things that kept him in my mind all these years.  I saw him at his mother's once and I after some hesitation I went to talk to him, but when I walked by, his car was gone.  I thought about him recently and imagined what I would say to him were he sick in the hospital (no reason for that setting other than age).  I decided I wouldn't apologize for my pranks, but would discuss them with him and find out what was going on in his life at that time.  I did not realize it would soon be too late.  I hope if people are sentient in heaven, he knows someone thinks of him.

    

Mr. Burks was my 7th grade basketball coach in 1972 and math teacher in 1973. He recognized that Debbie and Jeff Sturgis, Katherine Scott, one other person (name?) and I were wanting to learn at a faster pace than the rest of the class so he put us in an empty classroom next door and let us work at our own pace. I've always admired him for that. Found him at the Peanut Barrel during college break and had a few drinks and chatted with him. Never forget that nice experience.

I have fond memories of Mr. Burks. I was in his class for the 91-92 school year. Enjoyed his teaching. He was strict in the class, but it was for our own good. He was also a patient person. He will be missed for sure.

Mr. Burks was one of the best teachers I had in high school. He set the expectations high and encouraged us to meet those expectations. I was very fortunate to have had him as one of my teachers because he prepared us for education beyond high school and taught us that we were cable of achieving so much more than we believed we could. Go rest high on that Mountain Mr. Burks knowing you have had a positive impact on multitudes of young people over the years. God bless you and give peace to your family.