PRESIDENT DAVID BURKS confe~ with DonnaHelms, advancement officer,andMikeVI1l lrams,vice president for advancement, in BurkS office Sept 21 Burks spent many hou~ each day inmeetings, ensuringthat every part of Harding ran smoothly. 'R. KECK esrud h~,~~~~~,~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ride "1'E. "Tn,,,,.,inl He also said he normally to take other trips doing makes wouldn't ride the roller throughout the year to Branson, Mo. coasters. However, Pres- The reason Dr. Burks wanted to spend ident David Burks said the Disney World vacation with his famwith his grandchildren, ily was because family was most importhe rides were well worth tant, Bryan said. the thrill. When the Burks family - including Dr. Burks' wife, Leah; their two sons, Bryan, dean of the College of Business Administration, and Stephen, associate "Family does come first," Bryan said. "That's why this trip was very important to him." Throughout Dr. Burks' presidency and even his hfe, he said he tried to keep his priorities straight. professor of kinesiology; Bryan's wife, Laura, and their three children; and Stephen's wife, Jeanne and their three children - decided to take a trip to Disney World in May 2004, Dr. Burks knew he would have to do things out of his norm. "Our number one objective in life was that Bryan and Stephen be strong Christian leaders. That's at the heart of what life is all about:' He said he and Leah wanted to raise strong Christian men. "Our number one objective in life was that Bryan and Stephen be strong Ouistian leaders," Dr. Burks srud. "That's at "I would never do that on my own," hesrud. •PRES[DENT DAV[D BURKS "I had no interest. I had been there a couple of times without the kids, and I promise 1did not ride 'Tower of Terror' ... But the kids loved it, and I loved doing it with them," Laura said her children especially enjoyed the time they spent with their grandfather on the trip. "Grandpa rode some rides he probably wouldn' t normally," Laura said. "But he wanted to be with the kids; it was fun." Dr. Burks said because of his schedule, it was nice to spend a week with his entire family. "It's one thing to spend time together at a ball game, or to have them over to your house," he said. "But to spend a the heart of what life is all about." Bryan said by his father's example, he tried to spend as much time with his family as possible. "It's a challenge [for him[ with six grandchildren to spend time with each one individually," Bryan said. "By his example, I've seen him balance that." Dr. Burks srud if his children raise their children to be strong Christians then he accomplished his dream. "That's been our dream," he srud . "We want them to pass their faith on to their children, and J'm absolutely convinced they wil1. They love their children, and they'll do that with God's help." - RENEElEWIS 139 - PRESI DENT
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