Longtime South Coast
AQMD Governing Board
Chair and Los Angeles
civic leader Dr. William A. “Bill”
Burke passed away on May 29 at
the age of 87 surrounded by his
family.
Dr. Burke served as Chair of the
South Coast AQMD Governing
Board for more than two decades,
helping shape the district’s Clean
Air Mission during a period of significant environmental
progress. His leadership, vision, and unwavering
commitment to public health left a lasting impact on the
agency and the millions of residents who live and work
throughout the region.
Under his leadership, the Governing Board adopted 268
clean air rules that significantly reduced emissions of
smog-forming pollutants and particulate matter, while
pioneering nearly $2 billion in technology incentive
funding that helped replace more than 35,000 high-emitting
engines and equipment with cleaner technologies. He also
championed partnerships that accelerated the development
of cleaner heavy-duty engines and zero-emission
technologies, many of which have had impacts well beyond
Southern California.
Dr. Burke’s greatest legacy, however, was his unwavering
commitment to environmental justice. He believed
everyone deserved the opportunity to breathe clean air
and helped establish
South Coast AQMD’s
Environmental Justice
Community Partnership
and Environmental
Justice Advisory Group,
ensuring that the voices
of communities most
affected by air pollution
helped shape the agency’s
work. His contributions
continue to guide South
Coast AQMD’s mission
to protect public health
and improve air quality.
Beyond his work in air
quality, Dr. Burke was
a respected civic leader whose influence extended across
the Los Angeles region. He founded the Los Angeles
Marathon, transforming it into one of the nation’s most
celebrated running events and creating a tradition that has
brought together hundreds of thousands of participants and
spectators over the past four decades. Inspired by the spirit
of the 1984 Olympic Games, he envisioned the marathon as
a celebration of community, perseverance, and the city he
loved.
While his professional accomplishments were
extraordinary, his family shared that Dr. Burke’s greatest
pride was being a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.
He is survived by his wife, former Los Angeles County
Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke; daughters Christine
Burke Adams and Autumn Burke; and his beloved
grandchildren.
Dr. Burke’s vision and dedication to public service will
continue to inspire South Coast AQMD’s work to protect
public health through clean air for generations to come.