Dr. John W. Burr exhibited great leadership and school spirit as a professor in the Health Occupations program at Utah Technical College (UTC), which is now Utah Valley University (UVU), circa 1970. He was a champion of the health education programs offered at the time, including practical nursing, nurse's aide and dental assistant programs. As a dedicated Wolverine, he also penned the first school song for Utah Technical College and was also instrumental in establishing the band and drama programs at the school. He also served on the committee that secured the site where the present UVU campus is located in Orem.
Burr began his career in the United States Army Medical Service as a medical and surgical specialist. After the army, Burr became an operating room technician at Utah Valley Hospital in Provo, UT. He was passionate about education and taught undergraduate courses at both UTC and Brigham Young University. He also had a love of genealogy. He was employed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and worked in the Genealogical Society.
Burr was instrumental in laying the foundation for UVU's burgeoning health professions program, which now includes nursing, dental hygiene, respiratory therapy, public health, and the physician assistant program. He also launched a variety of pre-health profession programs including chiropractic, dental, medical podiatry, nursing, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, radiologic technology, respiratory therapy, and veterinary. UVU's College of Health and Public Service remains forever indebted to Burr for the tremendous impact he had on health education at Utah Valley University.
