Rev. Dr. Richard "Dick" Rome Burnette, Jr

The Reverend Dr. Richard Rome (Dick) Burnette, Jr. of Lakeland, Florida died in his sleep on Tuesday, April 18th, 2023, at the age of 95. He was born in Bowling Green, Virginia to Reverend Richard R Burnett and Mary Allen Lee Burnette, the first of their three children. He was married to Carol Ravndal Burnette for 66 years. A lifelong learner, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Randolph-Macon College after a stint in the U.S. Navy, a Bachelor of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, a Master of Arts from the Richmond Professional Institute of the College of William and Mary in Applied Psychology and an Education Doctorate in Research and Testing from Florida State University. Contrary to popular belief, he did NOT graduate from Jones Jr. High in Toledo (his students will understand).

He taught for 52 years at Florida Southern College (FSC) where he developed the Testing Center, the Counseling Center, the Nursing Program, and the Criminology Program. He served as Psychology Department Chair, Social Science Division Chair, Coordinator for Institutional Research, Director of Psychological Testing, and the Director of Student Disability Services.

While at Florida Southern he was instrumental in forming the Florida Association for Institutional Research, provided norming data for the first CLEP credit by exam test, consulted with the College Board for over 20 years, and edited the National Newsletter for Ministerial Assessment Specialists. He was the chapter secretary for Omicron Delta Kappa, a student leadership fraternity, for which he won the national leadership award. Twice he was awarded the FSC Teacher of the Year Award, the second at the age of 81, and was recognized for teaching excellence by Omicron Delta Kappa, the Sears Roebuck Foundation, and United Methodist Church Board of Higher Education. He coordinated campus-to-church relations, hosting many high school church groups on their visits to FSC, for which he won the John Wesley Church Relations Award. He also served in several professional organizations including Phi Eta Sigma, Alpha Phi Omega (President), Phi Delta Kappa, Chi Beta Phi, Psi Chi, and Phi Gamma Mu.

He was an exceptional teacher, who mentored both students and staff and entertained them with his stories, wit, and occasional pranks. He taught students the Jones Junior High song, how to speak ant, how he got his children to eat spinach, and was known for riding his bicycle or unicycle to class or teaching with a flying squirrel in his jacket pocket.

Ordained in the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church (UMC), he served his entire tenure as a missionary to FSC, sent to serve the needs of students. He did so in abundance. He also served as the Coordinator of Ministerial Assessment on the Board of the Ordained Ministry for the Florida Conference of the UMC for four decades. A lifelong member of the BYKOTA class at First UMC in Lakeland, he taught Sunday School and attended “religiously” until his passing.

An avid Boy Scout and outdoorsman, he hitchhiked to Philmont Scout Ranch from Virginia and took his scout troop canoeing on the Hudson Bay. He attained the rank of Eagle Scout and earned the Order of the Arrow from the Boy Scout Council. Most notably, his scouts captured his future bride along the parade route in Richmond to be the queen of their float. The consummate scout, he took his family on numerous adventures including tent camping around the country and especially in Cherokee, NC. He also led FSC’s canoe trips around Florida for over four decades and rafted the Colorado river in his late 50’s. He had notable horticultural skills, earning him the most improved yard of the year in Lakeland and he created two new fern species.

A true child of the depression, he was known for driving his iconic 1956 VW Bug for over 52 years. Eventually he sold it to his mechanic for a dollar. His backup vehicle was his sister’s 1961 VW Bug. He also enjoyed sports, leading the Faculty Fossils in softball and volleyball, and supporting FSC’s exceptional varsity sports programs. He was a recognizable, if not vocal, fan(atic). He wrote a chapter in Lake Hollingsworth, Reflections and Studies on a Florida Landmark and the stories were mostly factual. He was never one to let the truth get in the way of a good story. He was proud of the plaque on his office door that said, “Office of Embellishment.”

Dr. Burnette is survived by his wife Carol Ravndal Burnette, daughters Renée Burnette (Jim Coble), Randi Burnette Sinclair (Mark), and sons Richard R “Rick” Burnette III (Lois) and Robert B “Rob” Burnette (Jane). His grandchildren are Kathryn “Katy” Harrington (Scott), Caroline Dervan (Chris), Nicolas “Nick” Burnette, Allison Burnette, Rachel Sinclair, Andrew Sinclair, and Sydney Sinclair, and great-grandson Benjamin Harrington.

He was predeceased by his parents, brother William “Willy” Burnette and sister Elizabeth “Liz” Burnette Dunkum, and Aunt Edna Bailey.

A memorial service honoring his life will be held on Friday, April 28th at 1:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church, 72 Lake Morton Dr., Lakeland, Florida. After the service, the family will welcome friends. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Richard R Burnette, Jr. Scholarship Fund may be made to Florida Southern College.

To the best of our knowledge the above information is correct although some is the product of his oral history, so we will never know. We know that he was a phenomenal storyteller. Just ask any of his 5,000 students about him and they will recount a story he told - a true measure of his teaching talent and relatability.