City Names Street After a Shaw Neighborhood Couple

Check out this article about the celebration On Sunday, August 15 at noon,  St. Louis City and Alderman Steve Conway will host a celebration event to name a portion of 39th Street after Don and Elaine Burrus - a couple who has helped with development and enhancements  in the Shaw neighborhood for decades.

The celebration and ribbon cutting will take place at the corner of 39th Street and Flad Avenue. Refreshments will be served and the public is welcome to attend. The honorary street designation will be on 39th street from Flad Avenue to Flora Place. It will be named “Don and Elaine Burrus Boulevard.”

Below is information on Don and Elaine’s lives and contribution to the Shaw Neighborhood.

Don and Elaine Burrus have lived in the Shaw Neighborhood for many years. Don was born here 75 years ago and raised here. He was in the class of 1948 at St. Margaret of Scotland School. Elaine has been in Shaw for 53 years. The couple has been married 53 years and have been very active in the rehabilitation of many houses in the Shaw Neighborhood since the 1960's.

Don is a teacher at Bishop DuBourg high school where he has taught (economics, American History and Swing dancing among others) and coached (track, football, and Baseball) for over forty years. He served ten years as president of the Shaw Neighborhood Improvement Association (SNIA) and three terms as president of the Shaw Neighborhood Housing Corporation. He has been a member of St. Margaret Athletic association where he coached and served as president for many terms. 

Elaine was the secretary at St. Margaret of Scotland School for 22 years. She coached and played on many parish teams. She was vice president in charge of block units for over ten for SNIA and held many other posts in the SNIA. She was the founder of the Shaw Mobile Patrol and started the neighborhood Christmas Parlor Tour. Elaine has managed the St. Margaret Credit Union for approximately 10 years.  She also is area captain for Operation Brightside.

For any additional information, please contact Shaw Neighborhood Housing Corporation Executive Director Sean Spencer at 314 583 9436.