Dr. Thomas H. Burnett

Dr. Thomas Hays Burnett

September 27, 1944 – July 22, 2021

Dr. Thomas (Tommy) Hays Burnett passed away surrounded by his loving family on July 22, 2021. He was born in Smackover, Arkansas on September 27, 1944.  He filled his childhood in Smackover with family, friends, and athletics.  He was a standout football, basketball, and track and field athlete for the Buckaroos. He also exceled in baseball and swimming. Upon graduation, the University of Arkansas offered him an athletic scholarship in both football and baseball, and Tommy chose to join his older brother Bobby as a receiver for the Razorbacks.  He was a member of the 1964 National Championship team and was named All-Southwest Conference and led the team in receiving his senior year.  His junior year he was drafted by the Pittsburg Steelers but decided to stay for his senior year and finish his college career at Arkansas. During his three years on varsity the Razorbacks were 29-3.  He also ran track for Arkansas, excelling in the 100-yard dash (fastest time 9.7 seconds) and the 400-yard relay.  After his senior year he was signed by the New York Jets where he played with Joe Namath for two seasons, including a Super Bowl III championship.  He played a short time with the San Diego Chargers before retiring from football and beginning a lifelong career in education.  After completing his doctorate at Texas A&M in 1972 he was hired at Missouri State University as a professor in the Physical Education, Recreation and Leisure Studies department (now the Department of Kinesiology). He was soon promoted to Department Head and excelled in that role for over two decades while continuing to teach. His signature Recreation Administration class, “ToBo” helped shape two generations of Recreational Administration professionals and he loved teaching it.  After retiring from administration, he continued to teach until retiring in 2020 after four and a half decades in the classroom.  Although he had a passion for teaching and administration, he found the most joy and reward in playing and coaching the sport of handball.  He began playing, and was very successful, soon after his retirement from football and loved the sport for the rest of his life.  He taught thousands of students to play handball at Missouri State and founded the Missouri State Handball Team in 1987, which he guided into the most successful collegiate handball program in the world.  His teams boasted 15 national team championships, 16 national women’s championships, and 8 national men’s titles.  His program produced dozens of All-American players, national champions, a world champion, and impacted hundreds of college athletes. He also served as the National Collegiate Handball Commissioner for several years. In 2011, the Missouri State Handball program was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and in 2020, his women’s team was inducted.  Tommy himself was inducted into seven (7) Halls of Fame and in 2017, Missouri State University named their handball courts the Dr. Thomas H. Burnett Handball Courts. All of his professional accolades and accomplishments, however, pale in comparison to his favorite role as a father, grandfather and mentor.  In 1965, Tommy married Jo Belle Hailey and they were married for 26 years.  Tommy and JoBelle have three children: Dr. Greg Burnett (wife-Melinda), Jeni Hopkins (husband-Scott), and Jeff Burnett (wife-Courtney).  In 1995, Tommy married Tammy Boyd and adopted and embraced a daughter, Sharayah Domerese (husband-Matt).  Tommy cherished his children and was the best dad they could have ever hoped for.  He coached their football, baseball, and basketball youth teams, along with other activities, and never missed a game or endeavor. He was a supportive and loving father.  He loved sharing his passion for sports with them and his love for nature, often taking them camping and on hikes.  He loved animals and growing and eating vegetables. He was as involved a father as anyone on the planet and truly loved being around his children…until the grandchildren came along.  His grandchildren included: Hailey Jo Hopkins (Jeni), Nick Jeffrey Burnett (Jeff), Hayden Thomas Hopkins (Jeni), Isaak Thomas Burnett (Greg), Allison Belle Burnett (Greg), Zoe Renea Raleigh (Sharayah), Brynlee Olivia Burnett (Jeff), and Harper Grace, Taylor Jo, and Ella Kay Domerese (Sharayah). He adored and loved his grandchildren and enjoyed immensely spending time with them and watching them play sports and be involved in activities.  He was always positive and motivating.  His inspirational gift stemmed from not just seeing potential in someone but motivating them to reach it.  His magnetic personality was filled with an energy, enthusiasm, and a passion for life that was contagious.  Anyone who met him wanted to know him.  Anyone that knew him loved him.  His sense of humor was unmatched, and his larger-than-life personality touched many.  He lived life with fullness and a spiritual love for all.  He is remembered and missed by so many.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Clell and Frances (Myers) Burnett and his older brother, Bobby Burnett. He is survived by his wife, Tammy, the children, and grandchildren mentioned above, his younger brother, Bill Burnett (wife-Linda), sister in-law Dorothy Burnett and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews. A Celebration of Life is planned for September 18, 2021, and further details will be announced by the family. Handball was a big part of his life, and his legacy will live on in his Missouri State University Handball Program.  In lieu of flowers or gifts, donations to the Springfield Handball Club supporting MSU Handball would be appreciated.  Make checks payable to Springfield Handball Club and send to 1433 E. Stanford, Springfield, Missouri 65804, or PayPal to MSUHandballTeam@gmail.com. You may also choose to donate to the Michael J. Fox Foundation supporting Parkinson’s research.

The strength of the wolf is in the pack, and the strength of the pack is in the wolf.