Samuel Eugene Burnette Class of 1956

[Bill Burchfield '59]

Samuel Eugene Burnette, age 71, of Jacksonville, passed away on November 26, 2008. Born on May 31, 1937 in Knoxville, TN to Samuel and Jeanettia Burnette. Samuel graduated from Rule High School, Knoxville, where he played football, basketball, baseball and ran track. Sam was voted Mr. Rule High for 1956. He was chosen for the All Star football team as a fullback. He was recruited by the University of Wyoming to play for the Cowboys. He spent one year there and then transferred to East Tennesse State in 1959. He joined their football team and earned a BS in Business Administration, June 1961. He was a member of the ROTC and upon graduation served in the U. S. Army in Frankfurt and Augsburg, Germany from 1961-1965. In Gelenhausen, May 12, 1962 he married Sharon Marie Kennedy from Jacksonville, FL in a military ceremony. Between 1961-1963 he served in Germany in the 2nd Howitzer Battalion, Third Armored Division. He served in the Quartermaster Corp, Augsburg, Germany until 1965. He was chosen as an escort for President John F. Kennedy during his visit to Germany. Samuel finished his Army career in Jacksonville as a recruiter. He received an honorable discharge with the rank of Captain and went into private business. Samuel loved football and was an avid Gator fan. He is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Mary Alice Cook. He leaves behind his wife, Sharon Kennedy Burnette; sons: Douglas Burnette (Bonnie), Glenn Burnette (Caroline), Kelly Burnette and granddaughter Corinne Burnette, St. Augustine; numerous nieces and nephews; sisters: Opal Ensor (Dan), Elizabeth Millsaps (Fred), Ann Mayock, all of Knoxville, TN; brothers-in-laws: James Kennedy (Bonnie), Ocala and Ken Kennedy (Debbie), Texas; and sister-in-law, Maureen Chambers (Bill), Tampa.