Raymond Burse facts for kids

Raymond M. Burse is an American lawyer, businessman, and leader in education. He has served as president of Kentucky State University twice.

Raymond Burse's Early Life

Raymond Burse was born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, in 1951. He was the youngest of 11 children. He finished Christian County High School in 1969, doing very well in his class. His parents, Joe and Lena Burse, taught him to work hard and be grateful. Even though money was tight, they believed a good education was very important.

Raymond's father, Joe, had a big influence on him. This is why Raymond often speaks to motivate others. In high school, Raymond was a captain in both track and field and football. He was a strong student and athlete, which helped him earn a special scholarship called the Rhodes Scholarship.

Raymond Burse's Family

Raymond Burse is married to Kim Burse. They live in Prospect, Kentucky. Kim also has experience helping young people find careers.

Raymond has three children: Ray Jr., Eric, and Justin. His oldest son, Ray Burse Jr., is a soccer player. He played for Ohio State and then for several MLS teams. Eric Burse is a journalist. Justin Burse is a lawyer who handles financial matters.

College and University Education

After high school, Raymond Burse went to Centre College in Danville, KY. He studied chemistry and mathematics. At Centre, he was very active. He helped start the Black Student Union and was its president for three years. He also advised the college president. Raymond was on the dean's list every year.

He continued playing sports in college. He was inducted into Centre College's Hall of Fame in 1997 for his athletic achievements. He was a top football player and won championships in high jump and high hurdles.

After earning his bachelor's degree in 1973, Raymond received many honors. He was named to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. He also won the Fred M. Vinson Honor Award. Most notably, he received a Rhodes Scholarship. This allowed him to study at Oxford University in England from 1973 to 1975. There, he studied organic chemistry and played many sports.

Raymond first thought about going to medical school. However, he later decided to become a lawyer. He returned to the U.S. in 1975 to attend Harvard Law School. He earned his law degree in 1978.

Helping Others and Giving Back

Supporting Students and Workers

Raymond Burse has always worked to help people in Kentucky. While he was president of Kentucky State University, he did something amazing. He cut his own salary by $90,000. This money helped 24 of the lowest-paid workers at the university get a 40% pay raise. They were earning $10.25 an hour.

In 2014, he also helped a KSU football player, Deshon Floyd, achieve his dream of an internship abroad. Raymond paid the $2,000 the player still needed. Later that year, he offered a full scholarship to Javaugntay Burroughs, a student who survived a school shooting. Raymond said he wanted to make sure the student's parents did not have to worry about college costs.

Community Work in Louisville

After leaving Kentucky State, Raymond focused on his community in Louisville. He and his wife helped with the Louisville Force for Good Campaign. This campaign supports the Community Foundation of Louisville, which helps the community in many ways.

He also became the president of the Louisville NAACP chapter. He focused on making sure police were accountable. He also worked to bring back transportation for students to special schools called magnet and charter schools. Raymond received the Living Legacy award from the Kentucky Black Legislative Caucus. This award recognized his achievements, especially as KSU president.

Raymond Burse's Career Journey

Starting His Law Career

After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1978, Raymond Burse moved to Louisville, Kentucky. He started his law career at a firm called Wyatt, Tarrant, and Combs. In Louisville, he became a "dynamic civil leader." He joined many local groups, like the Louisville Public Library Advisory Commission and the Kentucky YMCA.

First Time as Kentucky State President

In 1982, Raymond's career changed direction. He became the 9th president of Kentucky State University. He was only 30 years old, making him the youngest college president in the country at that time. His main job was to put in place a new plan to make sure everyone had equal opportunities at the university.

Raymond became known for greatly improving student enrollment and the quality of education. He used his legal and business skills to help the university. He secured over 60 million dollars for campus improvements. He also opened the Whitney M. Young College of Leadership Studies. After seven years, he left the presidency in 1989.

Working at GE Appliances

After his first time at KSU, Raymond Burse returned to his law firm. In 1995, he took a job at GE Appliances and Lighting as General Counsel. He worked his way up to become vice president and General Counsel from 2002 to 2012. After 17 years there, he left to return to Kentucky State University.

Time at Alabama A&M

In 2006, Governor Bob Riley appointed Raymond Burse as a Trustee for Alabama A&M University. He later resigned from this position due to disagreements. He had also been considered for president of the university in 1996, but did not take the job due to salary disagreements.

Second Time as Kentucky State President

After working at GE, Raymond Burse returned to Kentucky State University as interim president. He faced many challenges during his second term. The university's board trusted him, saying his knowledge and leadership would be very helpful.

One big problem was a seven-million-dollar budget deficit. This was partly because many students had not paid their tuition. Raymond decided to unenroll about a quarter of the students who had unpaid bills. He allowed them to enroll again once they paid. He explained that students had moved into dorms and attended classes without meeting their financial duties.

To fix the budget, Raymond also announced staff reductions and budget cuts. These cuts saved money from 2014 to 2015. This included reducing the athletic department budget and eliminating some staff and teaching jobs. Raymond understood the impact of these cuts. Soon after, he gained recognition for giving up $90,000 of his own salary. This money helped increase wages for the university's lowest-paid employees. After serving for two years, Raymond resigned in May 2016 to return to Louisville with his family.

University of Louisville Board

In July 2017, Governor Matt Bevin appointed Raymond Burse to the University of Louisville Board of Trustees. He replaced Junior Bridgeman. Governor Bevin called Raymond a "thoughtful leader." Raymond was set to serve until January 13, 2019.

Leading the NAACP

Raymond Burse served as the 1st Vice President of the NAACP Louisville Branch. In December 2024, he became its president, taking over from Rauol Cunningham. Raymond and Rauol share similar goals. They want to bring back transportation for students to magnet and charter schools. They also aim for police accountability. During his ceremony, Raymond said they need to review information from the Louisville Metro Police Department.