Ed Shytle (right), president of the UMM Foundation, and John Burlew

During a March 5 meeting of directors of the UM Men Foundation, President Ed Shytle surprised John Burlew with the third Dale Waymire Award.

Conceived by Robert Powell, former president of the UM Men Foundation, the first award was presented to Waymire, founder and first president of the foundation. The second was presented to Gil Hanke, former president of the General Commission on UM Men now serving as top staff executive of the commission.

A fourth Award was presented to Jim Monroe, former financial adviser for the foundation in honor of his many years of service to the foundation.

Burlew is a graduate of Penn State University where he was a contract Navy ROTC student. Following college, he served two years on the USS DeHaven (DD-727), a destroyer based in Yokosuka, Japan.

Burlew worked 23 years for Carrier Air Conditioning Company in Syracuse, N.Y. In his last position he served as the director of quality assurance. In 1986, he purchased Hemstreet Tool and Die, Inc., a company he still owns and operates today.

John became involved with UM Men, following his 1970 election as lay leader of the Syracuse District. The position carried with it responsibility for providing support for a men’s retreat at a conference camping site. “I found such support by the other men who were in attendance, that I knew UM Men was a place where I belonged,” said Burlew.

Since that time Burlew has served as president of UM Men in North Central New York Conference (1988-1992); president of Northeastern Jurisdiction UM Men (1999-2004); and a director of the UM Men Foundation (1999 to the present). He has also served as treasurer for the National Association of Conference Presidents (1994-1998).

 “I am most proud to be part of an organization that not only serves men around the country, but supports people on mission trips throughout the world,” said Burlew.
  
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