GNAC Official Selected PLU Distinguished Alumnus
Mike Burton, the GNAC's Supervisor of Officials for football, has been selected Pacific Lutheran University's Distinguished Alumnus Award winner for 2014.
Mike Burton, the GNAC's Supervisor of Officials for football, has been selected Pacific Lutheran University's Distinguished Alumnus Award winner for 2014.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

PORTLAND, Ore. - Mike Burton, who is the supervisor of football officials for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, has been selected Pacific Lutheran University's 2014 Distinguished Alumnus Award winner.
 
The award will be presented during PLU's Homecoming Celebration banquet Oct. 3.
 
Burton, a 1969 graduate of PLU, has had a distinguished career spanning four decades in an array of stellar programs and services such as forensics, national boards and football officiating.
 
In addition, he was a master teacher who received the coveted Golden Apple Award from Seattle television Channel 9 and PEMCO Insurance for excellence in education.
 
Burton’s career as a debate coach began in Auburn and concluded at Eastside Catholic. Both programs received national recognition.
 
Last summer he became the first person from the Northwest selected to the National Speech and Debate Hall of Fame, the highest honor for any high school speech and debate coach.
 
In his career, he led his speech and debate teams to 36 state championships and three national championships.

Some of the awards he has received include the Washington State Teacher of the Year award, the National Football High School (NFHS) National Citation Award for Officiating, the National Speech and Debate League Living Legends Award and the Bruno Jacob Lifetime Award for Service to Forensics Education.

He is also a member of the University of Kentucky Tournament of Champions Forensics Hall of Fame and the Washington Officials Association Hall of Fame.

During his career, he served on the National Speech and Debate League executive board, the WIAA Forensics Committee, the National Catholic Forensics League Executive Committee and the Washington Officials Association Executive Board.

He was also the Washington Officials Association Rating and Senior Seminar chairperson and the president of the National Federation of High Schools Official board, overseeing all high school sports officials in the United States.

He is currently the Football Commissioner for the Northwest Intercollegiate Football Officials.

Burton and one of his officiating crews worked the 2009 NCAA DIII Stagg Bowl, and he was recognized nationally as one of the finest officials in college football.
Facebook Twitter YouTube Podcasts Blog Video RSS Photos
Related Articles
Pacific Office