NAMA announced the March 18 passing of NAMA Chair Emeritus Bill Burch. Burch, who was the founder and longtime president of Burch Food Services in Sikeston, Mo., served as NAMA chair in 1997 and was a longtime member of the association.
“Bill was a wonderful leader who created a meaningful legacy in the industry,” said Dan Mathews, executive vice president and chief operating officer, in a prepared statement. “He combined professional success with a commitment to give back to the communities where he did business and, most importantly, he was devoted to his family as well. He will certainly be missed.”
Burch worked in the vending industry for over four decades. He accepted a position with Dale Vendors in 1973 and he purchased the company five years later, renaming it Burch Food Services. He previously had worked as a manager for Coca-Cola. In addition to serving NAMA, Burch was a four-term president of the Missouri Automatic Merchandising Association. At the time of his death, he was the chairman of Burch Food Service’s board.
A graduate of Southeast Missouri State University and former Navy Reservist, Burch was a respected figure in Sikeston. He was elected on the Sikeston City Council in the 1980s and served as mayor twice. He was a chairman for the Scott County Democratic Party, becoming a member of the National Democratic Party's Rules Committee in 1984.
Burch was also involved with the Missouri Jaycees and later was elected national director of the U.S. Jaycees and then senator for Jaycee International. He served on the Cerebral Palsy Board, was a regular contributor to the Sikeston Area Food Bank and president of the Sikeston Lions Club, and was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Sikeston.
Burch is survived by his wife, Suzanne. Other survivors include: one son and daughter-in-law, Steven and Tammy Burch; one daughter and son-in-law, Becky and Rob Newman; and one brother and sister-in-law, Harold and Chris Burch. Also surviving are three grandchildren, David Morgan Burch, Justin and Courtney Newman, and Austin and Jordi Newman; and five great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Rebecca Reeves; and one brother, Cecil Burch.
The family requests memorial contributions to be made to: First Baptist Church of Sikeston, 1101 N. Main, Sikeston, Mo., 63801 or Missouri Delta Medical Center Foundation, 1008 N. Main, Sikeston, Mo., 63801.
