Raymond Burse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Raymond Burse
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|---|---|
| Born | |
| Education | Centre College |
| Occupation | Lawyer College administrator Businessman |
| Employer | University of Louisville |
Raymond M. Burse is a leader in education, a lawyer, and a businessman. He was the president of Kentucky State University two different times.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Raymond Burse grew up in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. He went to Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. There, he studied chemistry and mathematics. In 1972, he joined Omicron Delta Kappa. This is a special group that honors leaders.
Mr. Burse earned a very important scholarship called the Rhodes Scholarship. This allowed him to study at Oxford University in England for two years.
A Trailblazer in Rugby
While at Oxford, Raymond Burse made history. He was the first African American to play in a big rugby game. This game was called The Varsity Match, where Oxford played against Cambridge. He played as a "wing" for the Oxford team. Even though Oxford lost the game, his achievement was so special that he was featured in Faces in the Crowd in Sports Illustrated magazine in 1975.
Leading Kentucky State University
Raymond Burse served as president of Kentucky State University twice. His first time was from 1982 to 1989. He returned for his second time from 2014 until 2016.
He is well-known for a big decision he made during his second term. He chose to take a pay cut of $90,000 from his own salary. His goal was to help other employees at the university. This money helped make sure they could earn a living wage. A living wage is enough money to cover basic needs like food and housing.
Before becoming president again, Mr. Burse worked for ten years as a senior leader at General Electric. This is a very large company.
Current Role and Awards
Today, Raymond Burse lives in Louisville. He is a member of the board of trustees for the University of Louisville. A board of trustees helps guide and oversee a university. He was chosen for this role by Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin.
In 2016, Raymond Burse received the Laurel Crowned Circle Award. This is the highest honor given by Omicron Delta Kappa, the leadership honor society he joined many years ago.
Raymond Burse is a father to three sons. His oldest son is named Ray Burse.
