BURKA, PAUL JOEL (1942 ~ 2022). The following is an obituary for Paul Burka, former Senior Executive Editor at Texas Monthly magazine. The obituary was published in the September 6 and September 7, 2022 editions of The New York Times. 

Paul Joel Burka of Austin, TX died on August 15 at the age of 80. He was a former Senior Executive Editor at Texas Monthly magazine, where he joined the editorial staff in 1974, a year after its founding. He set Texas Monthly's standard of excellence until his retirement in 2015.

He was a gifted political observer and writer, a superb if somewhat feared editor, and a beloved mentor to developing staff writers. Mr. Burka wrote confidently on any topic important to Texans, such as politics, sports, the oil and gas industry, and barbecue. He won the coveted National Magazine Award in 1985 for his story on businessman Clinton Manges, "The Man in the Black Hat." He wrote extensively about George W. Bush, who served as governor from 1995 to 2000, and as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. Former President Bush said, "Paul was a thorough and knowledgeable journalist. He understood state government as well as any Texas reporter, and his voice will be missed." Mr. Burka's unique stamp on Texas politicians was Texas Monthly's "Ten Best and Ten Worst Legislators," published at the end of every regular legislative session. He was interested not only in political stances but also in political effectiveness-whether politicians worked on behalf of their constituents with good intent and good character. It was said that political speeches and debates demonstrated noticeable quality-improvement when Mr. Burka was spotted in the Legislative chamber.

Admiring tributes published in texasmonthly.com and texastribune.org also mentioned his characteristic foibles: an office in utter disarray; a slightly disheveled appearance accentuated by barbecue stains; and no sense of time-none at all. One of his favorite mottos was "Another deadline, another miracle."

A popular teacher, Mr. Burka taught at the University of Texas, Austin in the honors undergraduate program and in the graduate program at the Texas School of Journalism and the Media. He also taught at Texas State University in San Marcos. A favorite course was "The Search for Right and Wrong in Politics."

Mr. Burka was born in Galveston, Texas on May 21st, 1942. He graduated from Ball High School in Galveston, earned a degree in history at Rice University in Houston, and received a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law in Austin. He was a Life Master in bridge by the age of 30, an avid but admittedly poor golfer, a connoisseur of country barbecue, and a devoted fan of the University of Texas Longhorns and the Houston Astros.

Paul Burka is survived by his wife of 44 years, Sarah (Rainey), their children, Janet, Joel, and Barrett, Barret's wife Meg (Kaufman), and Mr. Burka's sister, Jane, of Oakland, CA.

A memorial service will be held at 2pm Sunday, September 11, 2022, at the LBJ School of Public Affairs Library Auditorium. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Galveston Historical Foundation or the National Parks Foundation.