David Burgher reminisces about his 28-year career at Baylor Scott & White Dallas Foundation as he moves on to
the next chapter in his life—retirement.
For David, reaching out to the patients and families at the hospital was more than a job.
He considered it his calling. Helping others has been David’s passion since his first job as a water boy at his father’s construction company. After serving as a pilot in the Air Force, David was vice president of a family-owned insurance company and moved on to an agency where he helped people manage charitable giving. Through community volunteering on boards such as Young Life, David crossed paths with Boone Powell Jr., former CEO of Baylor Health Care System, who saw his success in raising money and asked him to join Baylor.
“At the time I didn’t think it would be the place for me, but after the third call I thought maybe God was trying to tell me something,” David recalled. It turns out the job was a perfect fit. As special assistant to the president, most of David’s time was spent walking the halls of the hospital, fulfilling Baylor Scott & White Health’s mission.
Foundation president, Rowland K. “Robin” Robinson, called him the “PWP” or “Prayer, Water & Parking Pass” man. David found Baylor Scott & White supporters and friends who were in the hospital and provided support by praying with them, offering a Baylor six-pack of water and leaving them with parking passes.
Nancy, David’s wife, said that he went from being his father’s water boy to God’s water boy.
“David treated his job as a godly mission in terms of helping people when they were most vulnerable, and he did it with a lot of humility and grace,” said Robin. “Beautiful, handwritten thank you letters from the patients David touched were shared with me every month.”
A desire to help others runs in the family. David’s son, Stephen Burgher, MD, is an emergency medicine physician. Dr. Burgher said when his dad would visit the Emergency Department it always made him proud, especially how all the nurses and staff respected and loved him so much.
He describes his dad as a man of integrity and a man of prayer who is steady, faithful, loyal, trustworthy and one who will do what he says, no matter the cost or timeline.
“Who my dad is and how he has lived his life is what has most influenced my life,” Dr. Burgher said. “He taught us to stay the course, to remain faithful to our own and to the Lord, to persevere, to wait on the Lord and to trust our provider and protector.”
Below is part of a letter from son to father during Dr. Burgher’s last deployment in 2016:
“Dad, I love that the Lord in His goodness has placed you at Baylor for these many years. I’m frequently approached by patients, family members or friends of patients whom you’ve touched with the Lord’s grace. You’ve inspired me since I was little. Thank you for giving each of us the freedom to find our way and figure out our own vocation. You provided the means, the example and the safety net, and you let us fly.”
Lindalyn Adams, who has known David since high school and worked at the Foundation with him for 17 years, said that David is like a brother to her and he leaves big shoes to fill.
“David has such a calming presence and is a man of the Lord,” Lindalyn said. “I can’t explain how much it meant to the patients when he prayed for them. We have all been richly blessed in knowing David and his wonderful family.” The Foundation is grateful for David’s 28 years of service, and wishes him a happy and fulfilling retirement.
