The Illinois College community is forever grateful that Burrus’ commitment to his alma mater increased over the years, benefiting hundreds of Illinois College students with his leadership and generosity.

A business and economics major, Burrus was an active member of Gamma Nu, elected senior class president and recognized with the Investment Award. He met his wife, Marcy Bramley Burrus ’71, on the Hilltop, and over the years the couple supported many Illinois College initiatives including Gamma Nu
and Sigma Phi Epsilon literary societies, the IC Fund and improvements to the Illinois College campus. Most notably, their investment in the renovation of Joe Brooks Baseball Field resulted in the sponsorship of the Burrus Seed scoreboard. They were charter members of the Illinois College Society.

The agriculture executive worked at his family business in Arenzville, Ill., full time since his graduation from Illinois College. He was serving as president of Burrus Bros. & Assoc. Growers at the time of his death on October 28, 2017. Burrus was actively involved in the local community serving two terms on the Passavant Area Hospital Board of Directors, as commissioner of the Coon Run Drainage District and in many capacities at Arenzville United Methodist Church. His work in the independent seed industry was recognized numerous times throughout his career. He was the recipient of the 2010 IPSA Industry Service Award, named an Honorary Life Member of the Illinois Seed Trade Association and inducted into the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce Agri-Industry Hall of Fame.

A Gamma Nu Trustee, Burrus most recently worked with the actives to remodel their meeting space in lower Baxter Hall. The Alumni Association Board of Directors honored Burrus with the Young Alumnus Award in 1988, and both Tom and Marcy served as Illinois College Homecoming Parade Marshals in 2016. The couple’s daughter, Lori Burrus Greene ’91, and son-in-law, Tim Greene ’91, are also IC alumni.