Burd enters Cal U HOF for work as an administrator
By Christine Oviatt, For the Herald Standard
10/06/2008
EDITOR'S NOTE: Each year, since 1995, California University of Pennsylvania has honored former athletes with induction into its Sports Hall of Fame. This year, four of the eight inductees are local legends. Dr. Paul Burd, Richard S. "Dick" Caputo, Sebastian "Sibby" LoNigro and Scott "Skooter" Roebuck all grew up in the area and still reside here. They all have different backgrounds, participated in different sports and all have the same perspective on Cal U - it got them where they are today. The inductees will be honored at a banquet at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, in the Performance Center at the Elmo Natali Student Center. Tickets are $35 each. Reservations may be made by contacting either Amy Lombard or Montean Dean of Cal U Alumni Relations at 724-938-4418
Today, a look at Burd.Honoree Dr. Paul Burd has a different story than most in the HOF. In fact, he was part of the original committee in '95 that created the Hall of Fame. Now, 13 years later, he is inducted into his own idea to honor individual sports athletes and contributors. "I never thought that as an administrator (at Cal) I would be inducted into the Hall of Fame," Burd said with a laugh. Burd grew up in Brownsville and graduated from Brashear High School, now Brownsville High School. He went to West Virginia University to receive his bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in clinical psychology. "My first love was working with students," said Burd.
After working for WVU, he ventured back home to the Brownsville area to start what would become a 35-year career. "My goal was to come back to western Pennsylvania for my son Scott and my wife Elizabeth's benefit." He came to Cal as director of the Financial Aid office in 1969. He was the interim Vice President of Student Development and Services in 1992, and accepted the full-time position in 1993 until retirement in '04. "I still go there to see everyone at the office and once they start to get to business and begin working, I just run away." he joked. "But I did something that I liked to do when I was there. Not everyone gets paid to do a job that they love doing."
When it came to athletics, he was not one to be put in the spotlight but rather behind all of the action. Everyone involved with the athletics department reported to him. He was a vice-president representative member of the PSAC Board of Directors for two years and he also chaired the NCAA self-evaluation of the Cal athletic program. He helped establish the first athletic gender equality committee which dealt with Title IX in the early 70s. "I got to see things happen when Title IX was introduced that I never thought I would. I recruited women to Cal to coach and participate in many sports, including golf and softball, which brought back national championships to Cal."
Without him and the other members of the original committee, there would not be a Hall of Fame. Burd has helped Cal become one of the top athletics program in the NCAA Division II because not only did he love his job, but also because he loves sports. "I was doing the things I liked to do. I really liked working with everyone." "I still try to make it to the sporting events." he stated. "Cal is a part of my family now."
Burd still resides in Brownsville with wife. His son graduated from Cal in 1992 and his daughter Megan currently attends Cal.
