Celebrating 30 Years of Service

Jun 19, 2009

For Syl Burkemper, teaching is a way of life.

Syl made his way to San Antonio through St. Mary’s University where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Education. Originally from a farm near St. Louis, Syl had received a scholarship to attend the prestigious Catholic University.

After receiving his degree, he taught for three years and realized that his life’s goal was to work with children but he wanted to work outside.

Syl made his way to Wisconsin and worked at a Boys Ranch but decided that the climate was better in San Antonio and in 1979, he returned and came to Boysville.

His started his career at Boysville as a relief houseparent at the second campus located at the crossroads of I-35 and Loop 1604. Three months later, he moved into the farm assistant’s position and has remained there for thirty years.

Syl spent the first year helping to build and move the farm program from the Retama Polo fields to the Boysville campus. He built barns and fences and helped care for over 30 pigs and 25 steers. During that time, he worked with 60 –plus children in the 4-H program.

In 1982, Syl began to tear down all of the barns and fences he built to move them to our current campus. Syl, who is probably one of the first true recyclers in San Antonio, moved barn, fence and pen material to the new campus to carefully reconstruct the facilities needed to house the farm program.

“I always worked to get donated building materials,” said Syl. He would take leftover construction materials and make gates, fences, walls or whatever else he needed.

While Syl is a master craftsman, especially with welding, his true affinity is teaching children the meaning of work. At any given time in the summer, Syl had a work crew of over 40 boys, working in the barn, on the barn or around the barn.

“Construction projects was a great teaching tool,” said Syl. “These boys learned welding, construction and how to use all building materials. No waste here!”

Syl taught children how to show and care for animals. He taught them how to surgically remove horns and even repaired a prolapsed rectum in a pig with two girls helping.

Syl will soon receive a 30-year service award from the 4-H of Bexar County.

While the 4-H program has dwindled, Syl is known for his ability to create sturdy picnic tables used around campus and even sold for thousands of dollars in the Boysville Wildest Auction in the West. He has also created props for the Boysville Fashion Show and Christmas programs.

“I’ve worked on almost every building on this campus,” said Syl with a smile. While his ability to build, repair or create is undeniable, it is his ability to teach children that has really made a difference in the lives of children who see that a hard day’s work can be very satisfying.