Lucius E. Burch

Lucius Edward "Luke" Burch (December 10, 1874 – October 15, 1959) was a college football player and prominent surgeon in the South who was once Dean of Vanderbilt University Medical School. He was the father of Lucius E. Burch Jr.

Early life Burch attended the Webb School in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. – "one of the best guards developed in the United States during his athletic career." Burch was selected first team for an all-time Vanderbilt football team in 1912. One writer opines "Captain Keller...was the greatest football expert that ever played on a southern field. I think also that Luke Burch was the greatest guard and that Phil Connell was the greatest fullback that has ever played on a southern field."

1897 The 1897 team went undefeated allowing no points and had the first conference championship for the school.

Medical practice Burch practiced briefly in Bear Spring, Tennessee before studying surgery at St. George's Hospital in London. He joined the Vanderbilt School of Medicine in 1904 as Professor of Gynecology before becoming dean ten years later.