James Leonard Burst ’53

Jim grew up in St. Louis, Mo., and came to Princeton from the John Burroughs School. He played freshman and J.V. football and basketball and joined Cannon Club. At the end of his sophomore year, he went back to St. Louis to attend Washington University and set a number of still-standing football records there, including points scored and yards per carry.

He was drafted by the NFL but served three years in the Air Force. He was stationed in Langley, Va., before going back to St. Louis to spend 17 years with a family machine-tool sales business.

But Jim’s real interest was sports, and he joined with his brother to build a new career in indoor tennis facilities. That led in turn, to an interest in horse racing and a stable of 40 horses.

Jim also served as an elder in the Presbyterian Church and taught a high-school Sunday class for many years.

He died March 30, 2017, in St. Louis. Jim is survived by his wife of 63 years, Nora Ross Burst, and their three children and 11 grandchildren.