Ken Burton Sr. dies at 89. He helped shape modern-day Manatee County
Charles Kenneth “Ken” Burton Sr., a former Palmetto mayor and Manatee County commissioner, died at the age of 89 this month after battling cancer.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that Burton helped shape modern-day Manatee County.
Over the course of a diverse public service career, Burton was instrumental in the centralization of the county’s water and sewer system, the building of Lake Manatee, the creation of SeaPort Manatee, the construction of the Bradenton Area Convention Center and the formation of the Manatee County Central Library System.
Following Burton’s death, the Bradenton Herald spoke to family members and community leaders about his tributes to the area.
A life serving Manatee County
After eight years serving in the U.S. Army and the Florida National Guard, Burton began what would be a long career in public service and politics in Manatee County.
He won his first election in 1964 to the Palmetto City Council. Then came an unexpected chance to represent Manatee County.
In 1966, a Manatee County commissioner resigned to take the job of county postmaster, leaving a vacancy. To fill the empty seat, Republican Gov. Claude Kirk tapped 32-year-old Burton, a fellow Republican.
Jeff Burton — Burton’s son and the current executive director of Bradenton’s Community Redevelopment Agency — said the governor’s appointment was “a bold move” that defied the county’s political makeup at the time.
The majority of county residents were Democrats, as was the entire county commission, Jeff said. But Burton won the voters over.
Two years later, he defended his seat, and he ran for a third, unopposed term in 1972.
Over his 10 years on the Board of County Commissioners, Burton served as vice chairman, and helped the group of five commissioners centralize the county’s sewer and water system, create the Manatee County Central Library System and develop Port Manatee — now SeaPort Manatee.
Prior to Burton’s work on the sewer and water system, many of the county’s residents “relied on wells and septic tanks, which were increasingly inadequate for a growing population,” according to Jeff.
Burton leads Palmetto
After stepping down from the Board of County Commissioners, Burton was elected mayor of Palmetto in 1981.
During his three years as mayor, Burton greatly contributed to the creation of the Manatee Civic Center — now the Bradenton Area Convention Center — and the development of the Regatta Point Marina and the Palmetto Historic District.
The Bradenton Area Convention Center, which recently saw a $48 million renovation, has hosted a variety of events, such as industry expos, concerts — including the Beach Boys in 1986 — and graduations.
Burton was named the county’s Distinguished Citizen of the Year in 2013, an award that recognizes those who make immense contributions to the community.
Burton was told that his good friend, John Marble Jr., was receiving the award and that he was there to make a speech on his behalf. When he heard the description of the winner and realized it was himself, Burton shook his head and proceeded to make a speech about Marble anyway, according to Jeff.
“That was Dad. He didn’t put a spotlight on himself,” Jeff said.
Life after politics
Even after he retired from public office, Burton never stopped his work in the county. Instead, he found new interests to pour his time into and became one of the county’s leading historians.
Palmetto Mayor Dan West described Burton as a “walking history book” who taught him a lot about local history.
Former Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant told the Bradenton Herald that Burton was “truly a legend” and that he “always had a big smile on his face.”
“He was one of those people that set a really high benchmark to follow behind him,” Groover Bryant said.
Burton founded the North River News, a local newspaper dedicated to Palmetto and the surrounding area, and the Suncoast Baptist Church. He worked to protect Emerson Point Preserve, raised money for Palmetto High School sports teams and created the Palmetto Church Softball League.
In his retirement, Burton found a passion for genealogy. He spent time restoring and documenting several local cemeteries, such as the Old Palmetto Cemetery, also known as the Yellow Fever Cemetery.
“He understood that these sites were more than resting places; they were living records of the community’s journey,” Jeff said.
‘It was never about him’
A “humble” high school graduate from North Carolina, Burton moved to Manatee County and “had a real, honest desire to make the community better,” according to his other son, Manatee County Tax Collector, Ken Burton Jr.
“It was never about him. It was never about him making a name for himself or a platform to better himself,” Ken Jr. told the Bradenton Herald. “He just had a genuine desire to move the county forward.”
“He was quick to defer, deflect and assign the accolades to somebody else,” Jeff added.
Despite his busy career, Ken Jr. said that his father’s kids, grandkids and great-grandkids were “his pride and joy.”
Two weeks before Burton’s death, Jeff said they had a large family breakfast — a final celebration with everyone present.
“He came in on a cane and sat and held court. He saw every grandkid, every great-grandkid, and knew what they were doing,” Jeff said.
Looking back on their own childhood, Jeff and Ken Jr. remember always being “included.”
“I think that plays into who my brother, my sister and I, who we’ve all become,” He continued.
‘You can do anything’
When Burton was no longer able to continue his passion for genealogy research, he gifted his work to his granddaughter — Jeff’s daughter Lindsey Burton Ardmore.
“We would sit there and talk about it, and he was so proud of every single person, and had such a story about every single person,” Lindsey said.
“Out of all his achievements, out of everything that he did, I consider his genealogy work to be his life’s work,” Lindsey continued. “For me to be able to get that and take it over, it feels like I’m close to him.”
“He loved his community, and he loved his country and he loved his family,” Lindsey said of her grandfather.
“He taught me that you can do anything you set your mind to, it didn’t matter if you were a poor kid from North Carolina,” Lindsey continued.
Burton family continues public service legacy
As Ken Jr. looks back on his own time in public service, he says that he is grateful that his dad gave him “a good name.”
“When I ran for office in 1992, I had people tell me that ‘I’m so glad your dad’s running for tax collector. He would be great,’” Ken Jr. told the Bradenton Herald.
He said he would respond and say, “No, it’s not my dad. It’s me, so you’re going to have to settle ... I hope that’s ok.”
Jeff says that every time the CRA built something, “I always had my dad there, and I was always looking for his approval.”
“I always got it. He didn’t have to say it, but you could just see it in his eyes,” Jeff said.
“It’s going to be a little sad, working on and completing projects in Bradenton or anywhere else, then turning around and looking for that face that you know is proud of you,” Jeff continued. “It’s not there. So I guess I have to grow up. I hate that.”
Memorial and tribute
Ken Sr. was preceded in death by his first wife, Marlene, to whom he was married for 47 years.
He is survived by his second wife of 17 years, Judy Burton.
He is further survived by his children, Ken Jr., Jeff and Christi Tillis, and his stepchildren, Stephanie Carlton, Chris Walker and Suzanne Berlin.
He leaves behind 12 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and his brother Larry.
A memorial service was held on April 10 at Suncoast Baptist Church in Palmetto. In Burton’s memory, the family asks for donations to TigerVision, a channel that livestreams Palmetto High School football and basketball games.
