COLONEL LEWIS E BURCHARD – CLASS OF 1965

COLONEL LEWIS E BURCHARD – CLASS OF 1965

Burchard, Lewis E., Col (Ret.) of Stevensville, Michigan

Graduating in 1965 with a degree in business and a teaching certificate, Burchard received a Reserve Officer Commission through the ROTC program. His first entry into the "world of work" was in the military, serving at Fort Sill, Oklahoma; Munich, Germany; and Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Having married Lynnette Shanahan in 1963, the overseas assignment was a wonderful opportunity for them.

After his initial service in the military, Burchard returned to Michigan and started his first teaching position. He graduated again from WMU with a master’s in counselor education and counseling psychology and was a high school counselor for several years. Burchard earned a certificate of educational leadership and then served as a high school principal for 16 years. During these years, Burchard also served in the Michigan National Guard in an armor battalion.

Burchard served more than half of his military career in command positions, retiring as a Colonel. He has served as Detachment, Battery, Company, Battalion, and Brigade and Post Commander.

Burchard says the best military job he ever had was the Brigade Command position in Wyoming, Michigan, where he led more than 3,000 men and women in the Michigan National Guard. He says the best civilian job was serving as superintendent of schools at Lake City, Michigan, a position he held for 15 years until he retired in 2005. He credits his success as a superintendent to a wonderful board, leadership skills developed through the military and his education at WMU.

Burchard and his wife have two adult children and live in Stevensville, Mich. He is active in several veterans’ organizations and serves on the state legislative committee for the Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel.