Ronnie Burke 1954-2014

[OldRugerMan]

Ronnie Burke 1954-2014. Best known to Ruger Collectors as the author (and Publisher) of the book on Ruger M77 from 1983. He once told me he would never do another book. He was a rancher, a writer and in 1976 established Burke's Convenience Store in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. He organized the first NRA Banquet in McCurtain county and was a Life Member of the NRA. In 1995 he married his wife Sue.

I understand he was cutting a tree that fell on him November 30th. His funeral was December 2. He will be missed.

[Coogs]

Remember Ron Burke. One heck of a collection of 77's. I first met him at one of Bill Goodman's shows. Can't remember if it was Detroit or Louisville. May have even been at Monroeville, PGCA. The brain ain't as good as it once was. Those were the days. Prayers for his family, Coogs.

[SteveRuger]

Ronnie was a very pleasant person to visit with. Run into him @Tulsa quite a few times.
Prayers with his family.

[ElNumeroUno]

I think Ronnie and KD made both the Louisville Goodman Show and the Monroeville Show back in the day. KD says they also went to Denver about 25 years ago for the CGCA Show. Ronnie was an early force in long gun collecting with his M77's and his book of the same persuasion.

[OldRugerMan]

ENU is correct about the Denver Show. That's where I first saw the serial number 4 M77RS that Ronnie had there. Also in attendance (I think) besides KD was Phil Hardin from Illinois with his 200 Year collection. I lived in Denver at the time so it wasn't much of trip for me but I remember Ronnie saying what a long trip it was from Oklahoma (with his display in a horse trailer). I went to a lot of shows so they all kinda run together. I think this was in 1990, 24 years ago. I met Joe Foss there and got a picture of him and me in front of my first display of No.1's.

[hbone]

If I remember correctly, I think Terry Wolosek introduced me to Ronnie several years ago at one of the Tulsa shows. Sort of a quiet guy but also seemed like a really nice person. Never got to know him to well but his name was used quite a lot among Ruger collectors. Sorry to hear of his untimely passing. RIP Ronnie.

[ElNumeroUno]

KD told me of the Horse Trailer trip to Denver with 3 big displays, Ron's M77's KD's 44 Carbines and another gentleman( not recalling his name) with 10/22's. He thought it was the 25th Anniversary Show of the CGCA. Their 50th is this next May. Everyone in the West should start planning on it.