{{Short description|American football player (born 1947)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Lem Burnham | number = 83, 90, 67<ref name="A"/> | position = Defensive end | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|8|30}} | birth_place = Winter Haven, Florida, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 4 | weight_lbs = 236 |high_school=Winter Haven (FL) Jewett | college = U.S. International | draftyear = 1974 | draftround = 15 | draftpick = 378 | pastteams = * Kansas City Chiefs ({{NFL Year|1974}})* * The Hawaiians (1974–1975) * Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|1976}})* * Winnipeg Blue Bombers ({{CFL Year|1976}}) * Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|1977}}–{{NFL Year|1980}}) | statleague = NFL | statlabel1 = Sacks | statvalue1 = 16.0 | statlabel2 = Fumble recoveries | statvalue2 = 1 | pfr = B/BurnLe21 }}
'''Lemuel L. Burnham''' (born August 30, 1947) is an American former professional football defensive end who played three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifteenth round of the 1974 NFL draft. He played college football at Santa Ana Junior College and United States International University. Burnham was also a member of The Hawaiians of the World Football League (WFL), the Washington Redskins of the NFL, and Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
==Early life and college== Lemuel L. Burnham was born on August 30, 1947, in Winter Haven, Florida.<ref name="pfr">{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BurnLe21.htm | title=Lem Burnham | publisher=Pro Football Reference | accessdate=27 May 2025}}</ref> He attended Jewett High School in Winter Haven.<ref name="A">{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/b/burn02000.html | title=Lem Burnham | publisher=profootballarchives.com | accessdate=May 27, 2025 }}</ref>
Burnham first played college football at Santa Ana Junior College from 1970 to 1971.<ref name="A"/> He then transferred to play at United States International University from 1972 to 1973.<ref name="A"/>
==Professional career== Burnham was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 15th round, with the 378th overall pick, of the 1974 NFL draft. He released by the Chiefs before the start of the 1974 season.<ref name="A"/><ref name="B">{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2202&dat=19810723&id=IHlbAAAAIBAJ&pg=6126,1648814&hl=en | title=Peoples, Burnham retire from Eagles | work=The Gettysburg Times | date=July 23, 1981 | agency=Associated Press | accessdate=September 29, 2015 | pages=14}}</ref> He was selected by The Hawaiians with the 201st pick in the 1974 WFL Draft and played for the team from 1974 to 1975.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lchr.org/a/44/1d/74CollegeDraft/74CollegeDraftRound17.html |title=World Football League |publisher=lchr.org |accessdate=September 27, 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928024442/http://www.lchr.org/a/44/1d/74CollegeDraft/74CollegeDraftRound17.html |archivedate=September 28, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasljerseys.com/WFL/Players/B/Burnham.Lem.htm |title=Lem Burnham |publisher=nasljerseys.com |accessdate=July 20, 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721022257/http://www.nasljerseys.com/WFL/Players/B/Burnham.Lem.htm |archivedate=July 21, 2015 }}</ref> Burnham spent the 1976 off-season with the Washington Redskins and was released by the team on August 24, 1976.<ref name="C">{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1978/09/09/eagle-end-master-of-long-odds/0bfcfa23-f09e-4721-898b-3b92a9eee070/ | title=Eagle End Master of Long Odds | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=September 9, 1978 | accessdate=September 29, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1697&dat=19760825&id=rCQqAAAAIBAJ&pg=6674,3612498&hl=en | title=Redskins get Scott, Matuszak; Raiders put Blanda on waivers | work=Park City Daily News | date=August 25, 1976 | agency=Associated Press | accessdate=September 29, 2015 | author=Greene, Bob}}</ref> He traveled to Canada to join the Winnipeg Blue Bombers a day after being released by the Redskins.<ref name="C"/> He played in one game for the Blue Bombers during the 1976 season.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=burnhlem001 | title=Lem Burnham | publisher=StatsCrew.com | accessdate=July 20, 2015}}</ref> He played in 45 games for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1977 to 1979.<ref name="A"/> He led the Eagles in sacks with ten in 1977. He spent the 1980 season on injured reserve due to a knee injury suffered in training camp. Burnham announced his retirement from football on July 22, 1981.<ref name="B"/>
==Military career== Burnham served four years in the United States Marine Corps from 1965 to 1969, including thirteen months with the 3rd Marine Division in Vietnam. He won a Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Naval Unit Citation, Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Service Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal during his time in the Marines.<ref name="D">{{cite web|url=http://philadelphia.nflalumni.org/node/853 |title=Meet Dr. Lem Burnham – Alumni of the Week |publisher=philadelphia.nflalumni.org |accessdate=September 29, 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929211358/http://philadelphia.nflalumni.org/node/853 |archivedate=September 29, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="E">{{cite web|url=http://athletesandexecutives.com/tag/dr-lem-burnham/ |title=Dr. Lem Burnham, Ph.D |publisher=athletesandexecutives.com |accessdate=July 20, 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721021717/http://athletesandexecutives.com/tag/dr-lem-burnham/ |archivedate=July 21, 2015 }}</ref> He was honorably discharged from the Marines.<ref name="D"/>
==Personal life== Burnham worked as the team psychologist for the Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia 76ers and Baltimore Orioles from 1986 to 1992.<ref name="G">{{cite web|url=https://vancouversun.com/sports/Eagle+eyed+sister+celebrates+Bryan+Burnham+first+with+Lions/10229663/story.html |title=Eagle-eyed sister celebrates Bryan Burnham's first TD with Lions |work=The Vancouver Sun |date=September 24, 2014 |accessdate=July 20, 2015 |author=Beamish, Mike |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721151331/http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Eagle%2Beyed%2Bsister%2Bcelebrates%2BBryan%2BBurnham%2Bfirst%2Bwith%2BLions/10229663/story.html |archivedate=July 21, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="F">{{cite web|url=http://www.proworldathletes.com/aboutus.html |title=Dr. Lem Burnham |publisher=proworldathletes.com |accessdate=September 27, 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928025926/http://www.proworldathletes.com/aboutus.html |archivedate=September 28, 2015 }}</ref> He was the director and vice president of player and employee development of the NFL from 1992 to 2002.<ref name="E"/><ref name="F"/> He was also the mastermind behind the NFL Rookie Symposium, which debuted in 1997.<ref name="E"/><ref name="F"/> Burnham is a member of the NFL Alumni Association and the current vice president for the Philadelphia chapter.<ref name="F"/> He is also a life member of the Maxwell Football Club.<ref name="D"/>
He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from U.S. International University in 1974. Burnham then acquired his Master of Science degree in counseling psychology from Bemidji State University in 1978.<ref name="F"/> He earned his Ph.D. in psychology from Temple University in 1984.<ref name="F"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.philly.com/1999-11-11/sports/25495994_1_eagles-early-signing-sport |title=Moorestown's Burnham Makes It Official The Standout Center Signed A Letter Of Intent For A Basketball Scholarship To St. Francis. |publisher=philly.com |date=November 11, 1999 |accessdate=September 29, 2015 |author=Redd, C. Kalimah |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929184647/http://articles.philly.com/1999-11-11/sports/25495994_1_eagles-early-signing-sport |archivedate=September 29, 2015 }}</ref> He is a diplomate of the American Psychotherapy Association and the American Board of Psychological Specialties.<ref name="F"/> Burnham is also a member of the American Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science and the American College of Forensic Examiners.<ref name="D"/><ref name="F"/> He is the psychology program coordinator at Wilmington University.<ref name="F"/> He is also a member of Pi Gamma Mu.<ref name="D"/>
Burnham was a founding director of the Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence in 1995. He was appointed to the National Advisory Council on Violence Against Women in 1995.<ref name="D"/>
Burnham provides sports psychology services to professional athletes through ProWorldAthletes, Inc.<ref name="D"/> He is the author of "Personality in Group: Group Relevant Personality and Sociometric Status". He is also the author of "Beyond X's And O's", a handbook for coaches to identify and manage player related issues. Burnham is the co-author of two performance improvement publications called "The Athletic Success Profile" and "The Personal Success Profile."<ref name="F"/> He is an experienced public speaker and a member of Toastmasters International.<ref name="D"/>
===Family=== His son Bryan plays for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League.<ref name="G"/> Lem's son Lewis played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goheels.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3350&ATCLID=205676628 |title=Lewis Burnham |publisher=goheels.com |accessdate=July 20, 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721022526/http://www.goheels.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3350&ATCLID=205676628 |archivedate=July 21, 2015 }}</ref> His daughter Shannon attended St. Francis College in Loretto, Pennsylvania on a basketball scholarship.<ref name="G"/> His daughter Kara played basketball and volleyball at Montclair State University.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportstvjobs.com/resources/fa-nfl-films-internship-experience.html |title=Get on the Field as an NFL Films Intern |publisher=sportstvjobs.com |accessdate=September 29, 2015 |author=Burnham, Kara |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20150929211746/http://www.sportstvjobs.com/resources/fa-nfl-films-internship-experience.html |archivedate=September 29, 2015 }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[http://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=burnhlem001 Stats Crew profile]
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Burnham, Lem}} Category:Living people Category:1947 births Category:American football defensive ends Category:Canadian football defensive linemen Category:Santa Ana Dons football players Category:United States International Gulls football players Category:Kansas City Chiefs players Category:The Hawaiians players Category:Washington Redskins players Category:Winnipeg Blue Bombers players Category:Philadelphia Eagles players Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of the Vietnam War Category:African-American psychologists Category:21st-century American psychologists Category:Bemidji State University alumni Category:Temple University alumni Category:Wilmington University faculty Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers Category:American male non-fiction writers Category:American motivational writers Category:African-American non-fiction writers Category:Writers from Florida Category:Sportspeople from Winter Haven, Florida Category:Players of American football from Polk County, Florida Category:21st-century American male writers Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen Category:20th-century American sportsmen Category:21st-century African-American writers Category:African-American male writers Category:20th-century American psychologists