Dennis Burk
The Gulf Podcast and Oral History Project
The Gulf is an oral history project and podcast that shares stories about people and nature on the Texas Gulf Coast. For more information, visit the The Gulf's homepage.
Maxwell McClure
Dennis Burk is a former volunteer at the Texas State Aquarium and a passionate environmentalist with a diverse background. Born and raised in the Midwest, specifically Wisconsin, Burk developed an early interest in water sports due to the abundance of lakes in his home state. His love for water led him to move to Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1979, where he worked as a service advisor at Tradewinds Ford. Burk's adventurous spirit led him to sell all his possessions and embark on a six-and-a-half-month cycling trip around Europe with a Canadian nurse he met in Corpus Christi. After the trip, he moved to Boulder, Colorado, where he worked at a Mercedes Benz dealer and later transitioned into the medical field. He started as a unit assistant at Boulder Community Hospital and eventually became a phlebotomist. Despite enjoying his time in Colorado, Burk missed the ocean and decided to return to Corpus Christi in 1993.. He secured a job at Memorial Hospital, where he worked in various roles, including surgery and nursing education, until his retirement.
Scope and Content Note
This interview with Dennis Burk, conducted by Dr. Jen Corrinne Brown on April 20, 2017, provides a comprehensive overview of Burk's life, career, and adventures. The interview begins with Burk's early life in Wisconsin, his move to Corpus Christi, and his work at the Texas State Aquarium. Burk also shares his experiences of traveling around Europe on a bicycle, his time in Boulder, Colorado, and his transition from the automobile industry to the medical field. He discusses his roles at Boulder Community Hospital and later at Memorial Hospital in Corpus Christi. The interview also touches on Burk's interest in environmental history, his explanation for the brown water in Corpus Christi, and his passion for science. Burk's story is a testament to his adventurous spirit, love for the ocean, and dedication to his work in the medical field.
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