Richard & Ann Burch

Ann (Jones) Burch and her husband, Richard Burch, have been Martin County residents all their lives. Both are graduates of Loogootee High School. Richard pursued a career in Civil Engineering at Purdue University while Ann pursued a career as an Ophthalmology Assistant at Indiana University. Following college graduation, Ann and Richard became newlyweds. They began building their family after returning to Martin County. They have three children - Allyson, Emma, and Clint, and three grandchildren.

Ann lived a happy life before she passed away from a battle with cancer in early 2017. Ann gave her time, energy, and talents back to the community in many ways, some of which included: serving as a volunteer each of the 13 years of the Butcher-Gee Golf Scramble, as a member of the Miss Martin County Queen Committee from 2004 to 2016, as a member of the Loogootee Library board, and as a member of the MCCF Grant Committee. “Ann was simply community-minded,” Richard states. She is missed dearly by many for the impact she made on her family and within our community.

In addition to her community involvement, tennis was a passion of Ann’s. It dates back to 1978 when Ann was on the inaugural Loogootee Girls Tennis team. Her passion and love of tennis were passed on to her kids Allyson (class of 2006), Emma (class of 2008), and Clinton (class of 2011). All of whom were participants in the Loogootee Tennis Program. Ann was even an honorary at a girl’s Smash Cancer Tennis Tournament in May of 2016. Tennis offers students positive lessons in their growth and journey toward becoming adults. Knowing the impact tennis has on the lives of students, Ann and Richard decided to establish a scholarship to reward someone who has dedicated their precious teenage years to the sport that Ann so adored.

The Ann Jones Burch Tennis Scholarship will support Loogootee High School graduating students that participated in tennis; were active in other school activities; and are good, well-rounded, civic-minded citizens. Many of Ann’s friends, acquaintances, and family members, as well as local businesses, have given to the scholarship enabling it to grow it in her honor. It was one of the fastest-growing funds in our community’s history. Ann’s passion for tennis will live on through the athletes benefiting from this scholarship, and her legacy will last forever within our community.