Jack Burtch
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name =Jack Burtch
|image =Jack Burtch.jpg
|office=Member of the Washington House of Representatives for the 21st district
|term=1961–1967
|predecessor =
|successor = Bill Kiskaddon
|birth_name=Jack Lee Burtch
|birth_date ={{birth date|1926|5|11}}
|birth_place =Portland, Oregon, U.S.
|death_date ={{death date and age|2015|8|29|1926|5|11}}
|death_place =Aberdeen, Washington, U.S.
|party =Democratic
|occupation=Lawyer
|children =3
|allegiance={{flag|United States|1912}}|battles=World War II|branch={{flag|United States Navy}}|serviceyears=1943–1946|education=Whitman College (BA)
University of Washington (JD)
}}
Jack Lee Burtch (May 11, 1926 – August 29, 2015) was an American lawyer, World War II veteran and politician, who served three terms in the Washington House of Representatives.
Early life
Jack Burtch was born in Portland, Oregon in 1926. He eventually moved to Aberdeen, Washington, where he attended Weatherwax High School. After high school, he served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater for the United States Navy from 1943 to 1946.
Education and professional career
Following his service in the United States Navy, Burtch attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington where he received his Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Political Science. While residing in Walla Walla, he worked as a prison guard at the Washington State Penitentiary. Burtch then attended law school at the University of Washington,{{Cite web|url=https://issuu.com/uwschooloflaw/docs/uw_law_magazine_-_issuu_version|title=UW Law Fall 2016 Alumni Magazine|date=November 2, 2016}} receiving his Juris Doctor (JD) in 1955. During the same year as receiving his JD, Burtch opened his own private law practice in Aberdeen, Washington. His law practice would go on to last for over 50 years.
During his practice of law, Burtch focused his practice on criminal laws, civil rights and police misconduct. From 1955 to 1960, he was a part-time Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Grays Harbor County. He also worked to found the mental health program and treatment for low-income citizens of Grays Harbor County, which is now the Grays Harbor County Public Health & Social Services Department.
Political career
After operating his law practice for a few years, Burtch felt compelled to serve as a state representative for his home district (at the time, this was the 21st District or Grays Harbor County). He was elected to three straight terms where he served in the Washington House of Representatives from 1961 to 1967.{{Cite web|url=http://leg.wa.gov/History/Legislative/Documents/MembersOfLeg2011.pdf|title=State of Washington, Member of the Legislature 1889-2011}} During this time, he served as Assistant Floor Leader and member of the Executive Committee Legislative Council.
Later life and death
In 1967, Burtch's representative district was re-aligned by the state of Washington. At this point, Jack Burtch returned to practicing law full-time as a defense attorney until his disbarment{{Cite web |title=Legal Profile |url=https://www.mywsba.org/PersonifyEbusiness/Default.aspx?TabID=1538&Usr_ID=000000004161 |access-date=July 2, 2022 |website=www.mywsba.org}} in 2008. In 2013, Burtch was a member of the Honor Flight to Washington D.C., where he toured the war memorials and enjoyed the camaraderie of his fellow service members. Jack Burtch died in 2015, and was survived by his three children and four grandchildren.
References
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Category:Democratic Party members of the Washington House of Representatives
Category:Politicians from Portland, Oregon
Category:Washington (state) lawyers
Category:Whitman College alumni
Category:University of Washington School of Law alumni
Category:20th-century American lawyers
Category:21st-century American lawyers
Category:Military personnel from Washington (state)
Category:People from Grays Harbor County, Washington
Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II
Category:Disbarred American lawyers
Category:Lawyers from Portland, Oregon
Category:20th-century members of the Washington State Legislature
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