Sterling Leon "Bud' Burks

© Cheyenne Star

1997

Submitted by: Wanda Purcell

Dr. Sterling Leon "Bud' Burks was born March 3, 1938 in Reydon to Dessie Lucille Davis and Paul Wheeler Burks and died Saturday in the Roger Mills Memorial Hospital of Cheyenne at the age of 58.

Bud graduated from Reydon High School in 1956.

He married Janette Bonds on May 15, 1958 in Cheyenne and to this union two sons were born, Jerry Don and Thomas Keith.

Bud continued his education at Panhandle State University, Goodwell, Oklahoma where he earned his Bachelor's of Science Degree in Zoology in 1963. He then transferred to Oklahoma State University at Stillwater where he received his Master of Science degree and Doctorate in Zoology in 1965 and Ph.D. in Zoology in 1969. He later transferred to Oklahoma State University where he received his Bachelors Degree, Master's Degree and Doctorate in Zoology.

Bud and Janette were divorced on February 30, 1970 and he later married Linda Kaye Ganet McCauley on July 30, 1972 in Perry.

Bud had a Post Doctoral Fellowship at OSU from 1968-1970. In 1972, he accepted a full time position in the OSU Department of Zoology. He retired as full Professor in 1996.

While at OSU, he was Director of the Water Quality Research Laboratory from 1977 until his retirement.

He also taught graduate studies in Toxicology of Enviromental Contaminents and Ecological Approach for Control of Waste Halligan, President of OSU.

Bud was a pathfinder in the field of environmental science, even before there was an Enviromental Protection agency. Dr. Burks research lead to new methods in detecting toxicity in waste water. He worked closely with the state agencies of EPA on the Refiners Waste Control Council, Oklahoma Clean Lakes Association and the U.S Army Corps of Engineers.

Following his retirement, he worked for one year with the Stover Group of Stillwater, before formulating his own private consulting company, Water Quality and Toxicology Assessments in Stillwater.

He was preceded in death by his father.

Survivors include his wife, Linda of the home; two sons, Jerry Don Burks and wife Peggy of Reydon; and Thomas Keith Burks of Stillwater; one granddaughter, Heather Burks; his mother Dessie Burks of Reydon; two stepchildren, Tracey Lynn Quesenbury and husband Jacob of Nashville, Texas; and Glynn McCauley III and wife Lisa of Denver, Colorado; one stepgranddaughter, Rachel Lynn Quesenbury; and a host of relatives and friends.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday at the Reydon First Baptist Church with Ralph Hovey officiating and assisted Barry Cappleman. A second service will be held at 2:00 p.m. in the First Christian Church, Stillwater with Bill Inglish officiating.

Memorial donations may be made in memory of Dr. Burks to the OSU Foundation, 11100 Student Union, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078.

Local arrangements are under the direction of Rose Chapel Funeral Service of Cheyenne.

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