Jesse “Red” Burditt, Jr.
Jesse Newton “Red” Burditt died on Nov. 5, 2012, at the age of 86. Relatives and friends were invited to attend a visitation on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012, from 3 – 5 p.m. at Memorial Funeral Chapel in Bryan, Texas. Services were held at 11 a.m. at Christ United Methodist Church in College Station, Texas, with Reverend Rick Sitton and Dr. Morris House officiating. Interment services
followed at Bryan City Cemetery.
Red was born in Dallas, Texas, on Feb. 11, 1926. He was the second child born to Dr. Jesse Newton Burditt and Lanier Connolly Burditt.
Red and his lifelong sweetheart, Elinor, met as children in Abilene, Texas. They would later marry on Dec. 28, 1947, after his return from World War II service as a radioman in the United States Navy. Perhaps his greatest pride and accomplishment was being a member of the famed “Kiddie Korps,” A&M”s young squad that successfully competed for A&M during the 1943 football campaign. After a 7-2-1 record, the team was invited to meet LSU in the Orange Bowl. He would later return to A&M to finish his degree and compete in additional football, baseball and basketball seasons for the Aggies.
He was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003 as one of only eight athletes to receive varsity letters in three sports. He was instrumental in the formation of the Texas A&M Letterman”s Association and also led the Kiddie Korps of 1943 to fund a scholarship endowment. He was a lifelong Methodist and a faithful member of Bryan First United Methodist Church for more than 60 years.
Red was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Dr. Tom Connolly Burditt, of Abilene, and daughter-in-law, Deborah Sue Robinson Burditt. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Elinor Frances Sivley Burditt, of Bryan, and his two children: Jesse Newton Burditt, III, of Bryan, and Charles Bryan Burditt and his wife, Pamela Diane Burditt, of Conroe, Texas.
He is also survived by four grandchildren: Kimberly Anne Burditt of Carlsbad, Calif., Bethlyn Burditt (husband, Randall Mason) of Bethesda, Md., Bryan Collin Burditt (wife, Teri) of Cypress, Texas, and Christenn Anne Burditt, of Houston, Texas; five great-grandchildren: Cassandra Elizabeth Burditt Mason and Jesse Connolly Burditt Mason, of Bethesda, Maryland, and Charles Braeden Burditt, Madeleine Grace Burditt and Owen Brooks Burditt, all of Cypress, Texas; as well as the many nieces, nephews, cousins, and the many young men he coached, and always referred to as “his kids” throughout his coaching career for the Hamlin Pied Pipers, Lockhart Lions and Bryan Broncos.
Red passed away at home in Bryan, surrounded by his family. He will be remembered and missed by all who knew and loved him. He loved God first, his family and friends, Texas A&M University and the Bryan Vikings.
Charitable donations may be made in Reds name to First United Methodist Church of Bryan or the Texas A&M Letterman”s Association.
Fight on my men, Sir Andrew said,
Although I”m hurt, I am not slain.
I”ll just lie down and bleed a while,
Then I”ll rise up and Fight again.
– From the Ballad of Sir Andrew Barton
Arrangements under the direction of Memorial Funeral Chapel, Bryan, Texas. To view and sign the guestbook, visit www.post-register.com/obituaries/jesse-red-burditt.
