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Valenda Newell
January 01, 2017 | Indianapolis, IN
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Richard A. Burke
Jun 4, 1934 – Mar 10, 2008
About
BORN
June 4, 1934
DIED
March 10, 2008
Obituary
Richard A. Burke, born on Jun 04, 1934, passed away on Mar 10, 2008.
Obituary
MILWAUKEE (AP) - Richard "Dick" Burke, the founder of best-selling bicycle-maker, Trek Bicycle Corp., has died.
Burke died Monday night at a Milwaukee hospital from complications from heart surgery, said his son, John Burke, the company's president. He was 73.
In 1976, Richard Burke founded the company in a red barn in Waterloo, Wis., about 30 miles east of Madison.
Trek is known among cyclists for making the bikes that Lance Armstrong rode in his Tour de France victories. Those models feature carbon fiber frames and can sell for thousands of dollars.
The company - known for brands including Trek, Gary Fisher, Klein and Greg LeMond - sells 1.5 million bikes a year and does $700 million in sales.
"He always wanted to build the best bicycle company in the world and he did it," John Burke said.
Burke was born in Chicago in 1934 and moved to Milwaukee when he enrolled at Marquette University. After graduating he worked for several companies including an appliance distribution business. During the bike craze in the 1970s, he realized there was a need for a higher-end builder of bikes in the U.S., his son said, because all the bikes in that segment were imports.
He couldn't find any brands to distribute himself, so he started Trek. Although his background was in finance and credit, he decided to take the risk, his son said.
"Every time he saw a Trek, he smiled," John Burke said. "He took a lot of pride in Trek."
Burke told Inc.com in an interview in July 2006 that the company built its first bike plant in 1980 and three years later sales were around $20 million.
"Some years we made money, some years we lost," he told the magazine. "Everyone looked on it as Dick Burke's Tonka toy."
John Burke said the business went through some tough years but by the mid 1980s, it took off.
It has gained fame among riders for its partnership with Armstrong. Burke said his father was in France for Armstrong's first Tour de France victory.
The company now has a network of more than 5,000 dealers worldwide and 1,600 employees. The majority of its manufacturing is done in Wisconsin, with production of lower-end bikes in Asia.
Burke was an avid runner who competed in five New York City Marathons and three Boston Marathons, his son said. But later in life he rode his bike quite a bit.
Burke is survived by his wife Camille, five children and nine grandchildren.
Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press
Guest Book
Hello Camille,
Sorry to be oh so late in recognizing the passing of Dick, but I was only made aware of it days ago by my friend and former co-worker Freddie at the Gifford Youth Activity Center.
Dick and you were of the greatest benefit tot he children of the Center and we truly appreciate all that you both did for us.
Best wishes.
Michael Hubler
Executive Director
South Brevard Sharing Center
17 E. Hibiscus Blvd.
Melbourne, FL 32901
Michael Hubler
September 14, 2009 | Melbourne, FL
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Although I do not know him personally. He is very encouraging. He showed me that all you have to do is have an idea, and a willingness to work, you can achieve great things. The greatest thing we can ever achieve is life itself. Something not far off from us.
God Word fortells, "[God will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore." - Reveleation 21:3,4
Wanisha
July 23, 2008
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Verysorry to hear about Dick's passing. I was a buddy of Dick at York H.S. Elmhurst, Illinois. I attended his wedding in Wisconsin. My deep sympathy to his wife and family. I have informed all his friends from York of Dick's passing. We were anticipating Dick coming to our 50th, then 55th reunion. Now we understand is not being able to attend in October.
Lloyd Serfling
March 24, 2008 | Wheaton, Il @ Venice, Fl., IL
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I worked closely with Dick for ten years beginning in 1977. I started, in retrospect, knowing nothing and left, thanks to Dick, knowing something.
Most interesting for me was Dick's year at MIT during which time we began our Baker Bros. adventure starting with open market purchases of a very thinly held stock; helped to nurture Trek through through the growing pains all manufacturers experience and dealt with a computer crash of epic proportions. "You're going to have to solve this...
Stu Beattie
March 21, 2008 | Palo Alto, CA
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When I ride my Trek this day I will thank Dick Burke whom I met briefly in 1976 in the red barn.
david balkin
March 18, 2008 | Kittery Point, ME
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Dear Camille, Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. I feel I know you and Dick thru Mary and Gary. May God's peace be with you now. You and Dick are loved by many!
Barb Thornton
March 16, 2008 | Boca Raton, FL
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I am one of the many recipients of Dick's legacy of generosity as a Trinity Fellow at Marquette University. Last I heard Dick was on the upswing of a recovery from his open heart surgery so the news of his passing has hit me as harsh as a bitter Milwaukee winter. I haven't been in the loop on the Trinity Fellows listserve since I recently changed my e-mail address to gmail.
But I never lost touch with Dick. It gives me a much-needed chuckle remembering Dick's last e-mail to me...
Molly Turner
March 15, 2008 | Kansas City, MO
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I never had the opportunity to meet Mr. Burke in person but I am eternally grateful to be a recipient of a very prestigious scholarship that Mr. Burke funds. I wish I could have thanked him in person for this wonderful opportunity. Mr. Burke is changing my life, and with the education I am receiving, I hope to one day leave behind a legacy that Mr. Burke would be proud of. Thank you Mr. Burke and The Trinity Foundation for changing the lives of so many people in your community.
Natasha Smet
March 15, 2008 | Milwaukee, WI
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