Burle Pettit Scholarship in Journalism

Founded by his sons, Kevin, Kyle, and Scott in honor of their father, longtime editor of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Burle Pettit. This scholarship is awarded to students who have a focus in sports journalism. 

 

Why I Give

 

Pictured above: Scholarship Donor Scott Pettit, Undergraduate Journalism Student & Scholarship Recipient Chyna Vargas, Michelle Pettit

 

Biography of Burle Pettit

Early Years

Emory “Burle” Pettit was born July 26, 1934, in Moran, Texas, the youngest of seven children.  

Burle graduated from Moran High School in 1952, where he was voted Most Popular Boy.

An accomplished football player, he turned down a college scholarship to work in the West Texas oil fields,  an unpopular decision in his family because he was the first of the Pettit clan to have an opportunity to attend college.  

Burle joined the U.S. Army in 1954 where he served for two years and met his future wife, Frances Pettit, while on leave.  

Once out of the Army, he worked for the Texas Highway Department as a heavy equipment operator.  

Because Frances would not agree to marry Burle unless he attended college, he enrolled at North Texas State University on the G.I Bill in 1956.  

He married Frances on May 29, 1957.  

Burle served as Editor of the student newspaper, The Chat, while at North Texas. 

Graduating with a bachelor's degree in three years, Burle accepted a job at The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal in 1960.

Professional Life

Burle started as a reporter covering High School and Texas Tech sports for The A-J. In 1962, Burle began writing the lead sports column for the paper.

His writing earned numerous awards from the Associated Press, Headliners Foundation, and United Press International.  

In 1966, Burle was promoted to A-J Executive Sports Editor. During his time in sports Burle served as president of the Texas Sports Writers Association and the Football Writers Association of America.

Burle was promoted to Managing Editor of The A-J in 1973. In 1989, Burle was named A-J Executive Editor.  

He was elevated to Editor and became only the second person at The Avalanche-Journal to oversee both A-J news and editorial operations in 1995.

Burle was a state and national journalism leader, including serving as president of the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors Association.

He was awarded the Green Glory Award at the University of North Texas in 1994. 

Burle retired in 2000 and was named Editor Emeritus. 

In 2007 Burle was inducted into the Panhandle Press Association Hall of Fame

A collection of Pettit's Avalanche-Journal columns was published in the book: “A Boyhood Dream Realized: Half a Century of Texas Culture, One Newspaper Column at a Time," in 2019. 

That same year he was recognized by the Lubbock chapter of the Association for Women in Communications with the Mary Ann Edwards Outstanding Professional Communicator award.

In 2023 Burle was listed as one of the 100 Most Influential Figures in Texas Tech's sports history.  

Community

Gov.  George W. Bush appointed Burle to the University of North Texas Board of Regents where he  served two terms beginning in 1995. 

Burle was active in the Lubbock community, serving in leadership roles with the United Way, March of Dimes, Monterey Optimist Club, Monterey Optimist Basketball, the Salvation Army, South Plains Food Bank, Texas Tech and First Christian Church of Lubbock.  

 

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