ROBERT BURDINE

Robert E. Burdine, 60, of Jacksonville, Ill., died Friday, March 5, 1999, at St. John's Hospital in Springfield, Ill.

He was born Sept. 27, 1938, at Steele, son of Robert Richard and Marion Wright Burdine. He and Nancy Holly were married Feb. 21, 1960, at New Madrid.

Burdine received a master of arts degree in counseling from Southeast Missouri State University in 1973.

Formerly of rural Cape Girardeau, Burdine was instrumental in convincing Cape Girardeau County Court of the need for a new juvenile detention center.

He was assistant principal at Jackson R-2 Schools from 1960 to 1964, was chief juvenile officer with the 32nd Judicial Circuit from 1964 to 1971, and was Juvenile Court administrator with the 32nd Circuit from 1971 to 1973.

For the past 14 years he had been director of Morgan County Probation and Court Services Department in Illinois. He also operated Shooters Billiards in Jacksonville.

His other employment included part-time instructor at Lincoln Land Community College, administrator and owner of a farm in Costa Rica, part-time adjunct professor at the University of Illinois-Springfield, and associate director for the Probation Services Council of Illinois.

Burdine received the Gene Hughes Award in 1994 from the Illinois Probation and Court Services Association. It is the highest honor given by the association.

He was honored as Key Man of the Year in the Jackson Jaycees, recognized as Outstanding Man of America, served as president of Missouri Juvenile Officers Association, and served as a member of the Missouri Corrections Association Board of Directors.

Burdine served on many boards and committees of various criminal and social justice associations.

Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Holly Burdine of Phoenix, Ariz., Vikki of Chatham, Ill., Nicole Vaniter of Jacksonville; a brother, Richard Burdine of Steele; and a grandchild.

A memorial service was held March 8 in Jacksonville. A graveside service was held March 10 at a cemetery in Steele.