Steve Burks Class of 1968 Wall of Honor
As a sophomore on a team that won 11 games while losing only in the state quarterfinals, Steve contributed with 89 carries for 531 yards, and scored 4 touchdowns. He fondly remembers the hard-fought win against Lawton, OK. Steve started at running back in that game and the Demons held on to a 20-19 win, as Lawton failed on a two-point conversion late in the game.
Coming into his junior season and the opening of this Dumas Demon Stadium, Steve was a two-way starter, playing running back on offense and defensive back on defense. In the 1966 season, Steve rushed the ball for over 1000 yards and caught 9 passes for 167 yards and then scored 11 rushing touchdowns. At the end of his junior season, Burks was named to the first team all-district 1-3A team for both offense and defense. Steve fondly remembers the fourth game of that year, a 15-14 win over Amarillo High. In that game, Steve ran for 195 yards; intercepted a pass; recovered a fumble; and scored one of the two Dumas touchdowns.
In 1967, and Steve’s senior year, he was a captain for the team and once again, a two-way starter. For the season, Steve rushed for just over 1400 yards, scoring 13 touchdowns, and kicking 25 extra points. Steve is the first Dumas Demon running back to rush for over one hundred yards in a single game in this Dumas Demon Stadium.
At the end of his senior season, Steve was again named first team all-district at running back; and then all state at running back; and finally, Steve was recognized as the top running back in the state for class three A.
Steve also ran track while in high school and went to the state track meet in his senior year. He set the school record for both the 100 and the 220. The record for the 220 has been broken but Steve continues to hold the record for the 100, though two other athletes have tied that record over the past 58 years. Steve was a member of the National Honor Society and Student Council.
Steve signed a letter of intent to play football for Texas A&M; and then played for the Aggies for four years. Afterwards, Steve served a stint in the military and eventually returned to Dumas and worked for Continental Carbon until his retirement. Steve was married to Brenda for almost 50 years until her passing in 2019. Steve has three children and six grandchildren and lives in Amarillo. We are more than thrilled to include Steve Burks on our Dumas Demon Stadium’s Wall of Honor.
