Gayle Hart
Impact
The inspiration for this scholarship is to fulfill Dr. S. Kay Burrus’ wish to pay tribute to her parents, L.J. and Faye E. Burrus, of Edwardsville, Illinois, who lived by example, giving her love of life, of people, of sharing and sound footing, gentle ways and quiet strength and determination to accomplish whatever she set out to do.
Dr. S. Kay Burrus (Ph.D, University of Michigan, 1974), a Saluki alumna, earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in 1959 and 1962, respectively. She taught at Sterling High School in Sterling, Illinois, from 1959 to 1961 and served as an associate instructor in the Department of Physical Education for Women at SIU-Carbondale from 1961 to 1962.
In 1962, she went to Indiana University-Bloomington (IUB) as an instructor and coach in the Department of Physical Education for Women and, later, coached in the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
The regional competition era (1961) had changed the face of women’s varsity sports, and Dr. Burrus met the challenge, establishing IU’s first intercollegiate teams for women’s field hockey and basketball. She was highly successful with both, coaching field hockey from 1962-‘76 and basketball from 1963-‘67.
On receiving her PhD, she became an integral part of the exercise physiology faculty, in what is now the School of Public Health, where she taught an array of courses in exercise physiology and wellness. Kay served Indiana University with distinction for over 39 years, culminating her career with a 14-year appointment as Associate Dean for Academic Program Administration.
Kay was the first woman invited by renowned physiologist Dr. D.B. Dill to join his research team at his Nevada Desert Research Institute. Working most summers, from 1966-76, as a consulting scientist in his Laboratory of Environmental and PathoPhysiology, she became one of the first women with expertise in the physiology of exercise at high altitudes. At IU, she made noteworthy contributions in teaching, service, administration and research. She chaired and served on numerous master and doctoral theses, was active on many committees in the School and across campus, and was a member of several higher education professional organizations, among them the Midwest Association for College and University Physical Education, where she held various elected positions, assuming the presidency from 1987-90.
Above all, Kay loved living and loved people. She was a steadfast student advocate, advising countless students over the years. She gave selflessly; her greatest joy was seeing faculty, staff and, especially, students and student-athletes succeed. One former field hockey player said, “You were a tough coach, but even now, at 61, you make my heart shine.”
In 1998, Kay suffered a debilitating brain aneurysm losing her short-term memory and her entire ability to initiate. She completely recovered and returned to work in 2000. On her retirement in December 2001, Dean Gallahue wrote, “Her sensitivity and friendly accessibility to students, attention to detail, and quiet wisdom on matters of significant importance to the school made her a most valuable and respected administrator … . She will be missed.”
Kay had a wonderful sense of humor and, in retirement, she continued her love of life. She enjoyed traveling, gatherings with friends and neighbors, and sports, especially golf and men’s and women’s basketball, and, of course, women’s field hockey.
Kay’s dedication and commitment to her family, to her alma maters, SIU-Carbondale and University of Michigan, and to the betterment of IU and its entire community were unwavering to her death, June 16, 2018. She is deeply missed.