William Burke, founder of L.A. Marathon, dies at 87

William Burke, founder of the Los Angeles Marathon, built the event from the ground up and left a lasting imprint on the city. Burke died May 29, 2026, at 87, surrounded by his family. Born May 13, 1939, in Ohio, he served in the U.S. Air Force before working as a communications manager and aide to California Assembly members and the Los Angeles City Council. After serving as a tennis commissioner during the 1984 Olympic Games, he pursued creating the marathon, winning the bid in 1984 and staging the first race in 1986 with 11,000 runners. The event has since grown to 27,000 runners this year.