Clark Burrus Biography Favorites Color Brown Food Seafood Time of Year Spring and fall Vacation Spot South East Florida

Clark Burrus was born in Chicago on November 5, 1928. He grew up on Chicago's South Side and graduated from Englewood High School in 1946. He began studies at Texas State University before returning to Chicago to complete both a B.S.C. (1954) and an M.P.A. (1972) at Roosevelt University.

From 1954 to 1979, Burrus worked for the city of Chicago and served under mayors Martin Kennelley, Richard J. Daley, Michael Bilandic and Jane Byrne. In 1973, he was named city comptroller, the city's chief financial officer. Under his leadership of Chicago's Department of Finance, the city achieved its first AA bond rating for conformance in accounting.

In 1979, Burrus entered the private sector, serving as senior vice president of the First National Bank of Chicago in the asset and liability management department, a position he held for the next twelve years. In 1991, he was made the vice chairman of First Chicago Capital Markets and co-chairman of its public banking department.

Though he retired in 1998, Burrus remains active in Chicago's business community, serving in an advisory capacity on numerous boards and committees. He serves as chairman of the Chicago Council on Urban Affairs – Advisory Board and co-chairman of the Health Care Sub-Committee of the Cook County Citizens Budget Review Committee. In addition, he sits on the boards of twelve organizations, including the Economic Development Council, the Harold Washington Foundation and Urban Gateways. He is a member of the Union League Club of Chicago, the Economic Club of Chicago, the Executives' Club of Chicago and the Mid-Day Club. He has also published articles on minority issues in public finance. Burrus and his wife, Lucille, have one son, James.

Burrus was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on October 1, 2002.