The Friday Flyer, January 13, 2006 - Article: Bob Burt wins P-E's 'Sports Person of the Year'

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In a picture taken in 2000, Bob Burt is flanked by Canyon Lake students Scott Eden and Ben Kirish, who were both inducted into the Riverside County Student Athlete Hall of Fame, thanks in part to Bob's efforts in submitting their names and qualifications to the distinguished organization. It was because of his work on behalf of TCHS athletes and other outstanding athletes and coaches throughout Riverside County, as well as his work with suicide prevention organizations in the Inland Empire, that Bob was recently recognized as The Press Enterprise Sports Person of the Year.

Bob Burt wins P-E's 'Sports Person of the Year'

By Sharon Rice
The Friday Flyer Assistant Editor

     Canyon Lake parents, coaches and young people who have been involved with the athletic program at Temescal Canyon High School over the past decade will be pleased to learn Athletic Director and former Football Coach Bob Burt was chosen as The Press-Enterprise Sports Person of the Year.
     It was announced he was one of six finalists out of 24 nominees in the December 30 issue of The Friday Flyer, giving Canyon Lakers only hours to turn in their votes at PE.com before the final selection was made and the winner announced on December 31.
     Fortunately, Bob’s selection wasn’t dependent on his former neighbors’ votes as people all over Riverside County rallied to support the man who has touched so many lives.
     In Norco, where California’s all-time career rushing leader, Toby Gerhart was favored to win the award after leading Norco High School Football to the CIF championship, one woman wrote about Bob, “Often you see athletes win honors and the people behind the scenes are overlooked – when I saw this award, I thought of Mr. Burt.”
     Members of the award committee agreed, saying they “were looking for someone whose contributions and impact extend beyond the playing field to bring honor, meaning and recognition to area sports.”
     There is no doubt Bob Burt has made great contributions to sports in Lake Elsinore, leading Temescal Football for many years, while at the same time helping many of his athletes earn scholarships to play at the collegiate level. He continues to serve as Temescal’s athletic director but, this year, he also took on that position at the new Lakeside High School.
     His influence extends beyond Lake Elsinore, however, as he currently serves on the Board of the Inland Empire Athletic Directors Association and is actively involved with the SCIFBA Coaches Association. He serves on the CIF Advisory Committee and is involved in a program to mentor coaches and trainers in the principles of coaching. In fact, among his many awards is the “CIF Model Coach” award.
     Three years ago, Bob formed the Riverside County Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame to promote the importance of academic excellence, as well as athletic excellence, to Riverside County high school football players.
     But there is more to Bob than athletics. He is also member of the Outreach Committee for Teen Suicide Prevention and is active in assisting the Riverside County Sheriff’s Association and the LAPD in similar type programs after suffering the loss of his own 19-year-old daughter from a previous marriage to suicide in 1987. He is a guest speaker, both locally and nationally, for the Compassionate Friends Program, an outreach group that supports parents of children who have been killed.
     These days, Bob and his wife Sarah continue to have an active family life with a blended family of three grown children and three grandchildren. Though they began their married life in Canyon Lake not too many years ago, the couple moved to Hemet last year. Sarah notes they are very grateful for the letters of nomination and votes Bob received from his many supporters, and honored by the award.
     But as The Press-Enterprise reporter Greg Patton puts it, “We were thinking it was the other way around. We’re grateful and honored that the P-E’s first Sports Person of the Year has set such a high standard.”