Mike Burton, former English teacher and speech and debate coach at Auburn High School, and Lisa Raschkow Johnson, Auburn High graduate and basketball star, will be inducted into the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Hall of Fame.
The ceremony is scheduled for noon on Wednesday, April 15, at the Spirit of Washington Events Center in Renton.
Burton will be inducted in fine arts and officiating categories. His career spans four decades in an array of stellar programs and services such as forensics, baseball, national boards and officiating. In addition, he was a master teacher who received the coveted Golden Apple Award from KCTS Channel 9 and PEMCO Insurance for excellence in education.
Burton’s career as a debate coach included 25 years in the Auburn School District, at Olympic Junior High and then Auburn High School, and concluded at Eastside Catholic School. Both programs received national recognition.
Some some of the awards and accomplishments he and his teams received:
• Bruno Jacob for Service
• University of Kentucky Tournament of Champions Hall of Fame
• 36 state championships
• 1995 NW National Federation High Schools (NFHS) Instructor of the Year
• 2000 NFHS National Citation Award for Officiating
• 2004 Minnesota Coaches Golden Apple for Excellence in Forensics
• 2007 National Forensic League Living Legends Award
• 2007 Bronx Achievement Award
Burton shaped policy and programs throughout the state and nation with his leadership, service and expertise. His contributions in forensics and officiating are unprecedented. During his career, he has served in the following capacities:
• Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Forensics Committee (14 years)
• National Catholic Forensics League Executive Committee
• Football Commissioner for the Northwest Intercollegiate Football Officials
• Executive Board National Forensics League 1996-2000
• Washington Officials Association Executive Board 1985-2007
• President of the National Federation of Officials in 1998
• 2000 National Federation Citation Award Winner for Officiating Excellence
• 2009 Washington Officials Association Hall of Fame
Johnson will be inducted as a multi-sport standout athlete.
In 1982, she helped the Auburn Trojans’ softball team to a first-place finish at the state championships and her soccer team to a third-place finish at the state championships. But Johnson mainly will be remembered for the things she did on the basketball court. She was a three-year starter at point guard, participated on a state championship team with an undefeated season in 1982-83, and finished with 550 assists in her three years at Auburn—246 more than any other player in school history. She also was named a Converse All-American in 1983.
After high school, Johnson received a full-ride scholarship to the University of Washington. There, she was a four-year varsity letter winner, 1986 and 1987 team Captain, and 1987 Pac-10 Medal of Honor recipient. She ended her career with a record in assists that held for 15 years.
Johnson graduated from the UW with a science major and a 3.4 GPA. After a successful 15-year career in computer software business, Johnson lives with her husband, Mark, and two children in Bremerton.
Tickets to attend the WIAA Hall of Fame ceremony and luncheon on April 15 are $20 per person and can be purchased by sending payment to: Hall of Fame Tickets, WIAA, 435 Main Avenue South, Renton, WA 98057. Please include a return address and designate if you would like to be seated with Burton or Johnson.
