Robert Burnett "Coach" Burnett, 83, passed away quietly with family present in Salt Lake City, Utah in the early hours of December 20, 1998. Burnett a native of Oakland, CA, attended Oakland High and Marin Jr. College before graduating from Stanford University in 1939. At Stanford, Burnett played varsity basketball under coach John Dunn. In 1941 Burnett replaced HB Lee as basketball coach at Utah State University in Logan, UT only to leave after one season to join the war effort.
During W.W.11 Burnett achieved the rank of Lieutenant Jr. Grade and flew a Grumman Avenger Torpedo Bomber off the USS Monterey aircraft carrier. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his role in the 2nd Battle of the Philippine Sea, June 1944, a.ka. the "Marianas Turkey Shoot" Burnett was also awarded the Navy Air Medal.
After the war, Burnett earned his Master's Degree in Education (Stanford) and returned to the world he loved most, that of basketball. He coached after-school programs in Oakland, CA and in 1949 returned to Stanford, first as assistant coach under Everett Dean and then as head basketball coach from 1951-1954.
With a young family to support, Burnett left coaching but maintained professional ties to basketball for some years. He worked as a PAC8 referee, became Supervisor of Referees for the West Coast Athletic Conference and later served as it Commissioner. Burnett also pursued interests in the mortgage business, savings and loan and restaurant management/ownership. During this time he was best known as managing partner of L'Omelette Restaurant in Palo Alto, CA.
Burnett is survived by his first wife Pauline Perate and their four children, Ria of Taos, NM; Kevin of Iowa City, IA; Melanie of San Rafael, CA; and Damien of Foster City, CA; and by his second wife Kathleen L. Davis of Logan, UT and their four children: Deborah Aalders of Virginia Beach, VA; Matthew of Clovis, CA, Jonathan of Smyrna, DE and Kathryn Burnett-Klebart of Wyoming, DE. Burnett is also survived by ten grandchildren.
Arrangements are private. Any gifts or memorials should be made to the Stanford University Athletic Scholarship Fund. Correspondence is welcomed and appreciated. Please send to Kathleen Burnett, P.O. Box 3334 Logan, UT 84323