Don Burton

Donald Ray Burton passed away in Pulaski, Tennessee on June 16, 2024. He was born on June 26, 1935, the son of Rev. Jefferson (Jeff) Hammonds Burton and Clara Mae Burton (Evans). Don grew up in Greenup County Fullerton, Kentucky. He graduated from Owsley County High School where he was named to the All-District High School Basketball team in 1953. He went on to earn a B.S. and M.A. from Union College in Education and American History. He received the Faculty Athlete of the Year award at Union in 1957.

After graduation, Don and his wife of sixty-eight years, Glenna Burton lived in Pineville, Kentucky. Glenna finished school while Don coached at Bell County High School. He went on to coach and teach at Simon Kenton, Erlanger Lloyd, Nicholas County High, Jenkins High School, and Breathitt County High, all in Eastern Kentucky. Don received the Kentucky Mountain Conference Coach of the Year in 1967 and 1968.

From 1969 to 1977, Don coached basketball and baseball at Martin College in Pulaski, Tennessee. He established Martin Junior College as one of the top ten Junior College Basketball programs ranking 7th in the nation from 1969 to 1970. He won 107 games and only lost 32 being the TJCAA Champion in 1970 and NJCAA Region Champion in 1971. Also, he helped restore a winning tradition in baseball from 1971-1972. After Martin, Don returned to Kentucky to coach high school basketball at Warren Central, Russellville High School, Bowling Green High and Edmonson County High.

Don was an active member at State Street Methodist Church in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He was involved in his community by serving on his neighborhood association. He stayed in touch with his former players, enjoying hearing about their successes. He continued to follow the Kentucky Wildcats and Cincinnati Reds. He enjoyed going on golf trips with his buddies, making three holes in one during his life.

Don was inducted into the Union College Athletic Hall of Fame, Martin College Athletic Hall of Fame, and Edmonson County Athletic Hall of Fame as well as received several coaches of the year for basketball and baseball. He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Don is preceded by his wife Glenna Vickers Burton. He is survived by his daughter, Jane and husband Bill, son Billy Jeff and wife Robin, granddaughter Dana and husband Dillon, sister-in-law Judy Spencer, niece Amber and nephew Joe, great niece Emily and great nephew Caden. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Don and Glenna Burton Scholarship at UT Southern (Martin College) at 433 West Madison St. Pulaski, TN 38478, Kentucky United Methodist Children’s Homes 1115 Ashgrove Road Nicholas, KY 50356 in memory of Don Burton or to Union Commonwealth University (formerly named Union College) for student scholarships. The mailing address is Union Commonwealth University, 310 College St., Box D004, Barbourville, KY 40906 or you can give online at unionky.edu/give. There is a line there for Gifts in memory of.

Visitation is at Cone Funeral Home, in Bowling Green, Kentucky and will be from 11-1, Saturday, June 29 with the funeral following at 1:00 PM. Flowers can be sent to Cone Funeral Home with arrangements. You may view the obituary and offer condolences at www.conefuneralhome.com