Johnny Burt will get able to drop the puck at a Utah Grizzlies sport. Burt, who was a staple at so many sporting occasions in Utah via the many years, died on Wednesday. Jared Youngman
Johnny Burt, who was a presence at Utah highschool sporting occasions for over 4 many years, died on Wednesday morning. The longtime Sandy resident was 66.
Burt impacted many lives along with his ardour for sports activities, which included volunteering his time with the UHSAA at state tournaments for years and years in serving to with no matter activity wanted doing. He is also seen working at Utah Grizzlies, Salt Lake Bees and SLCC sporting occasions although the years.
“The fervour round highschool sports activities is what unites our communities, and Johnny actually had that zeal,” stated Rob Cuff, government director of the UHSAA. “Johnny’s life was marked by an inordinate quantity of hardship and wrestle, however the identical ardour he displayed for highschool actions allowed him to beat the various adversities he confronted throughout his life. Our ideas and condolences are with all of his household and associates throughout this tough time.”
Burt’s brother Doug and his sister-in-law Peggy have been his main caregivers over a few years at their dwelling close to Alta Excessive.
SLCC athletic director Kevin Dustin stated he first met Burt when he was an assistant coach at Alta Excessive in 1983. He stated “Johnny was a continuing presence at virtually each sporting occasion.”
A Utah legend and expensive good friend handed away this morning. Lots of you'll keep in mind Johnny Burt at a whole bunch of sporting occasions. RIP my little buddy.
— Kevin Dustin (@slccAD) August 10, 2022
He quickly realized that Johnny was in all places across the valley too at a wide range of sporting occasions. Their friendship spanned many many years as Dustin moved his profession across the business.
“Johnny was loving and constant. He linked with so many coaches, referees, the media … actually everybody who crossed his path turned a good friend. He was beloved by many and can be deeply missed,” stated Dustin.
My interplay with Burt was largely a passing hey and small discuss at state match video games over twenty years as he handed out stat sheets to the media between video games, whether or not it was soccer or basketball. That modified one morning a number of years again after we shared a automotive trip to the Dee Occasions Heart for the basketball state match.
In his later years when Burt may now not drive his personal automotive, a UHSAA workers member would usually drive Burt to venues if he needed to volunteer and public transportation wasn’t possible. On this specific morning, no person was accessible to choose up Burt from his dwelling in Sandy. I heard about this randomly the evening earlier than, and stated I’d be completely satisfied to choose him up as we lived inside 10 minutes of one another.
For an hour, Jonny and I listened to sports activities discuss radio and talked in regards to the Jazz, the NBA and shared random tales about highschool sports activities recollections. It was as regular a dialog as I might’ve anticipated to have with anybody else, and that’s what made it so memorable.
Burt had bodily and cognitive limitations that have been clear to those that interacted with him. By the years I noticed firsthand how random highschool college students would poke enjoyable at his small stature or the extraordinary demeanor wherein he went about his activity. You possibly can see the teasing damage his feeling at instances, however he took satisfaction in his duties and went about his duties in knowledgeable method.
Sharing a automotive trip to Weber State that March morning helped me get to know Johnny, the kindhearted, sports-loving particular person who simply needed to be handled like everybody else. On the UHSAA and the opposite sports activities organizations he turned affiliated with, that’s precisely what he was, simply a part of the crew.
After our automotive trip, there was all the time slightly extra which means to our small discuss. It’s most likely why my son was capable of meet his favourite basketball participant, Donovan Mitchell, just a few years in the past when the Jazz celebrity attended the 6A girls and boys state championship video games on the Huntsman Heart. My 11-year-old son William was hanging out with me that Saturday morning, and when Mitchell confirmed up, he was so excited to try to meet him.
In between the 6A girls and boys video games, Mitchell and his small entourage went down right into a room by the Utes’ locker room to calm down. A couple of UHSAA workers members and their households obtained to go in there and meet Mitchell and because of Burt, so did my son. He grabbed my son’s hand and used his “Johnny” authority to ensure William obtained into the again room as effectively.
That’s the Johnny I’ll keep in mind, type to his core and all the time wanting to assist others. State tournaments simply gained’t be the identical anymore.
For Jared Youngman, vp of the Utah Grizzlies, he first obtained to know Burt via highschool soccer officiating and stated that through the years they turned good associates as their paths crossed via the UHSAA and the Grizzlies.
“He all the time beloved being concerned. He would be certain the officers have been taken care of. He can be on the faculty first ready for us, strolling us to our locker room, out to the sector, and again,” stated Youngman.
“Johnny began coming to Grizzlies video games as a fan, however couldn’t simply sit and watch. He began working for me, serving to with chuck a puck and the rest that was wanted. He was with me at each dwelling sport. Even when he couldn’t drive anymore he would take TRAX down and myself or somebody would get him dwelling. Time got here he couldn’t make it to video games, he would all the time name throughout the video games to know what was occurring. I’m glad he was capable of make it to 2 of our playoffs this final season. Identical to highschool sporting occasions, Johnny turned a staple at Utah Grizzlies video games.”