Keeping It in the Burke Family The Burke family boasts five generations of MAC members that begin at the foundation of the Club. Get an inside peek at this family’s history and learn how swimming has played a significant role in its legacy. M.J. BURKE, FIRST GENERATION M.J. Burke was a founding member of the Missouri Athletic Club in 1903. M.J. was born in Louisville, Ky. in 1866 and worked for the John Deere Plow Company. M.J.’s son, Halpin D. Burke, became a champion swimmer at the Club.
HALPIN D. BURKE, SECOND GENERATION Halpin D. Burke followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the Club in 1915. Soon after, he became a champion swimmer for the Club. He participated in the Ten-Mile Swim National Championship, which took place in the Mississippi River on Sept. 4, 1916. Halpin finished fifth.
M.J. BURKE
ABOVE: A WELCOME LETTER TO HALPIN D. BURKE CONGRATULATING HIM ON BEING APPROVED AS A MEMBER; HALPIN D. BURKE; TEN YEARS AFTER PARTICIPATING IN THE 10-MILE RIVER SWIM, HALPIN WAS A PATROL JUDGE AT THE SAME EVENT IN 1926; HALPIN’S MEMBERSHIP CARD FROM 1915. 14 F Cherry Diamond F MAY 2016