Max Leroy Burch

Max Burch (1937-2023), husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and coach passed away on March 18th at the age of 85. Max was born in Perkins, OK and graduated from Stillwater High School in nearby Stillwater, OK. Max and wife Connie attended Stillwater High School and Oklahoma State University together. Max married his high school sweetheart in 1958. He then attended Oklahoma State for three and a half years before finishing his Industrial Arts teaching credential at Fresno State University in 1962. Max taught woodworking and math at Shasta High School. In his spare time he was well known as an expert craftsman in cabinet making and home building, including building the Burch family home and sharing his expert craftsmanship with friends and family in various construction projects. Coach Burch was especially renowned for his unparalleled success and countless contributions to the sport of wrestling in Northern California for 50 years, having started the sport at Shasta High School in 1965, and the Redding Amateur Wrestling Club in 1976 (still in operation) before retiring from coaching at Shasta College in 2015 at the age of 78. Max coached numerous individuals and teams to league, section, and conference championships, and numerous All-State wrestlers at the high school and community college levels, including two high school state champions and an eventual Olympic medalist and world champion. He led both high school and community college teams to top five finishes in the California State Championships. He coached the Shasta College Knights to a conference championship and was conference coach of the year. In 1992 Max received a 25-year service award by the National Wrestling Coaches Association. He was inducted into the California Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2009, and later the Shasta County Sports Hall of Fame. Max leaves a legacy of professional excellence, love for his family and friends, dedication to the sport of wrestling, and extraordinary integrity and generosity. He was a mentor to many students and athletes who stayed in touch with him until his passing. Max is survived by his wife Connie (Redding), two sons and daughter in-laws, Bryan and Laura Burch (Redding), Mike Burch and Tania Aquino (Madison, WI) three grandchildren, Katie Nolte (Annandale, VA) Joshua Burch (Portland, OR), Vania Burch Aquino (Madison, WI), four great grandchildren, and many grateful former wrestlers, students, and fellow coaches. A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, April 30, at 2pm at the Shasta High School cafeteria. In lieu of flowers please direct donations to: The Max Burch Scholarship Fund which will fund scholarships for Redding area high school graduates with accomplishments in wrestling. Checks can be made to: The Burch Scholarship Fund, PO Box 991212, Redding, CA 96099. Or request a link to give online by sending an email to “[email protected]”