Dr. William “Bill” Burke, the founder of the Los Angeles Marathon, died Friday at 87. His family confirmed he passed away peacefully on May 29, 2026, and credited him with decades of work turning the race into a major international event—alongside a legacy tha
The Los Angeles Marathon didn’t start with a tradition. It started with one man’s insistence that the city could do it.
Dr. William “Bill” Burke, the founder of the Los Angeles Marathon, died Friday at the age of 87. Burke’s family and the organization that organizes the marathon confirmed his passing in public statements late Friday. “It is with profound sadness. deep love. and immense gratitude that we share the passing of our husband and father Dr. William A. ‘Bill’ Burke. who passed away peacefully on May 29. 2026 at the age of 87. surrounded by his beloved family. ” the relatives said in a statement. “Bill lived a life of purpose, generosity, and service. He believed deeply that every person deserved the opportunity to live a healthy. fulfilling life. and he spent decades working to make that vision a reality.”.
Burke is survived by his wife, longtime L.A. County Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, and their two children, Christine and Autumn, according to the family statement.
Born May 13, 1939, in Ohio, Burke served in the U.S. Air Force before working as a communications manager and aide to members of the California Assembly and Los Angeles City Council. according to a 1987 Times profile. His path to sports took an unexpected turn during the 1984 Olympic Games in the city. when Burke served as a commissioner for tennis. He later described being overwhelmed by the community energy and excitement the international event generated.
“I decided what I’d like to do for the rest of my life, which is to see what I can do to re-create that feeling for myself and for some other people,” he told The Times.
In 1984. leveraging political connections. Burke won the right to run the city’s first marathon over two other bidders after the City Council adopted a resolution to organize the race. His selection met consternation from the running community. given that Burke had no racing experience and four prior attempts at a marathon had failed. Burke’s focus, however, was on marketing and a message that reached beyond competitive runners. “This race is not for the runners. This race is for the people and the city of Los Angeles,” he told The Times.
He went all in on branding—arranging billboards, marathon-branded Coca-Cola cans, and Vons shopping bags. The inaugural marathon under Burke’s stewardship took place in 1986, drawing 11,000 racers to the starting line. That figure was nearly half the size of the long-running and world-famous New York City Marathon that same year.
Over time, the event grew into the kind of global fixture Burke had imagined. Earlier this year, 27,000 runners took on a course that wound from Dodger Stadium to Century City. American Nathan Martin won the contest in a photo finish. tracking down Michael Kimani Kamau of Kenya to edge him on his final strides—winning by 00.01 seconds. Both runners finished well ahead of the USA Track & Field qualifying standard for the 2028 Olympic marathon. which will also be held in Los Angeles.
Burke’s marathon-building years were not without friction. In 2004. the city and Los Angeles Marathon. Inc.—Burke’s company—botted heads after he moved to trademark the marathon’s official logo. A legal settlement allowed Burke to sell merchandise with the marathon’s branding for an expected profit in the millions. as long as he also paid a royalty to the city. Some questioned the legitimacy of the arrangement after Burke donated to the political campaigns of several council members who approved the settlement.
Outside the marathon, Burke served as chairman of the South Coast Air Quality Management District for decades. The organization works to combat air pollution across Southern California and the Inland Empire.
In a final note to honor him, the family described a legacy that went beyond any single event. “We will remember Bill for his big heart. his unwavering optimism. his sense of humor. and his belief that one person truly could make a difference. His legacy lives on not only through the institutions he helped shape. but through the countless lives he touched along the way. ” the statement said. “We take comfort in knowing that somewhere he is out there fishing. telling a funny story and basking in the love of his friends and family.”.
William Burke Bill Burke Los Angeles Marathon founder death at 87 Yvonne Brathwaite Burke South Coast Air Quality Management District Nathan Martin Michael Kimani Kamau 2028 Olympic marathon
RIP Bill Burke.
I always thought the LA Marathon just kinda… started? Like businesses and sponsors just made it happen. Guess one dude really did it, wild. Also his wife being a supervisor is pretty interesting.
Wait so was he the one who “built it from scratch” or did they mean he fixed it after the city messed it up? Not saying it wasn’t him, just sounds like someone might be rewriting the timeline. I mean marathons have been around forever.
This is sad but also kinda makes me mad like… if he did decades of work, why does the race still feel so chaotic sometimes? Every year there’s always some issue with crowds or traffic and people act surprised. Maybe he was a saint though, I’m not taking anything away. Air Force to communications to marathon founder is a heck of a jump. RIP.