Sixty years after graduation, fond memories remain
Susan Laielli
Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: News
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As both student and athlete, Burbank claims to have been a better athlete, playing both baseball and basketball and singing in the choir. When asked which sport he thought he was best in, Burbank laughs, "Some people thought I wasn't good at either one of them." Clearly that wasn't the case, as Burbank was part of the 1949 basketball team at nationals against Pasadena, California. He beams with pride when he shares that Grand View, with approximately 100 students, took on the goliath that was Pasadena, which had roughly 10,000 students. Does he remember the score? "We got trounced." He says laughing.
The 1948 East High graduate played baseball for Grand View after the inaugural season at East, joining the college as third baseman and pitcher.
Burbank isn't shy about having been poor and needing to conserve saying, "I played baseball, but I didn't even own my own glove, so I would ask the third baseman from the opposing team if he would leave his glove on the bag for me." He still seems surprised that the guys would do it.
Burbank's athletic talents earned him a scholarship to Augustana College in Rock Island, but he said he couldn't afford to go.
"Grand View was in the neighborhood, I could walk, and besides the classes were $125 per semester. Drake was $12 per hour."
He chuckles thinking about it.
Glowing with personality, Burbank shares that by graduation day from Grand View he was married and had two of his four children with Bobbi, his East High School sweetheart, who passed away in 2001. Together, they created 4 children, and 36 great and grandchildren.
Burbank said, "I've only had four children, but they were prolific. They've done a good job supplying me with bankruptcy every Christmas." He laughs out load and shows those twinkling eyes again, reminding the onlooker of a favorite grandfather.
Burbank is full of surprises as he tells of his love for The Pride Iowa Barbershop Chorus and The Pride of Iowa Barbershop Quartet, a group he's been singing with for over 46 years. He has traveled to competitions all through the Midwest, plus two competitions internationally.
Sadly though, Burbank can only watch the men from the sidelines now, due to suffering a stroke in July, 2009. Behind the chain link fence at Highland Presbyterian Church in Des Moines where the men practice, is where the twinkling eyes dim just a little, as it is apparent Burbank wishes he could be a part of the "Make Em Laugh" routine being practiced for the Fall Contest.
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