A valuable and beloved member of the Bobcat family, John Burson spent 41 years teaching and coaching at Eunice High School. A 1967 graduate of St. Edmund, Burson earned his teaching degree at the University of Southwestern University and began his career at Eunice High School in 1971.
John Burson was involved in Lady Cats basketball from 1973 through 1975. Burson also joined the football coaching staff under head coach Lee Roy Taylor before given the job of starting the Lady Bobcats’ softball team in 1975.
In the spring of 1973, John Burson and Clarence Merricks built a new Bobcat baseball program. Success came quick! Under the direction of both Burson and Merricks, the Cats advanced to the state semi-finals by defeating the defending state champions in Minden, 3-2.
John Burson and Clarence Merricks later directed the Bobcats to the 1979 state championship. After winning three straight district titles, Eunice began its state championship run with wins over Jonesboro Hodge, Menard, Springhill, and Denham Springs only to face Pineville in the final game. A thrilling 4-3 victory earned the Eunice High School Bobcats the title of State Champions.
John Burson continued with the Bobcat baseball team for the next 25 seasons as an assistant coach and head statistician. He also served as a head coach of the Eunice American Legion
Team and was the statistician for the Eunice High School football team.
Retiring from Eunice High School in 2012 as the head of the EHS Social Studies Department, John Burson’s legacy as a great mentor, friend, husband, father, grandfather, coach, and educator will forever be felt at EHS.