William Burke, founder of the Los Angeles Marathon, died at 87. He transformed the race into a premier event despite no running background.
- Burke also chaired the South Coast Air Quality Management District. - He was married to former L.A.
County Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke. - The marathon grew from 11,000 runners in 1986 to 27,000 in 2026.
Burke's legacy includes a focus on community and marketing, though his tenure saw a trademark controversy. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.