of experience A world - Central Michigan University

CBA remembers
Don McBane and James Burley
Don McBane
James Burley
CMU’s College of Business Administration remembers
two outstanding and dedicated faculty members
who passed away this year, Donald A. McBane and
James A. Burley.
Don McBane, 1 46- 006
A dedicated educator and professional
When students entered one of Don McBane’s marketing
classes, they were not subjected to the usual classroom
lecture. Instead, McBane challenged his students with
real-world problems that helped improve their decisionmaking
and critical-thinking skills.
That dedication to making a difference in his students’
lives will be sorely missed as McBane, an associate
professor of marketing, died on October 15.
“You could hear Don coming from across the building,”
said Richard Divine, chairman of CMU’s Department of
Marketing and Hospitality Services Administration. “He
had a booming laugh that could be heard up and down
the hallways, and he always came to work with a smile
on his face. He loved what he did.”
McBane was nationally known in the areas of sales and
marketing. He was actively involved in committees and
was a board member for seven national and international
organizations including the American Marketing
Association’s Sales Special Interest Group.
James Burley, 1 4 - 006
A passion for marketing
James Burley loved golf, cars, and Harley-Davidson
motorcycles, but what he was most passionate about
was marketing.
“He had a dynamic, outgoing personality, and he loved to
talk about his passions, especially marketing,” said Richard
Divine, chairman of CMU’s Department of Marketing and
Hospitality Services Administration. “He was never shy
about expressing his opinions.”
Burley, a marketing and logistics professor, died on
July 26.
Along with marketing, Burley also had a love for the
holidays, especially the “big guy.” He owned his own
Santa Claus costume and could be seen playing Santa
every year for local organizations and events.
Burley’s involvement and dedication to the field of
marketing and CMU extended far past the classroom.
“Don was a professor dedicated to and focused on
helping his students and colleagues,” said Divine. “He
had a real passion for technology, and he effectively
integrated multimedia and interactive equipment into his
classroom.”
He was posthumously awarded the 2006 Distinguished
Service Award by the Society for Marketing Advances.
The AMA’s Sales Special Interest Group named its
educator of the year award “The Don McBane Award”
and made McBane its first honoree.
“Students enjoyed and respected Don,” said Zach
Williams, ’00, a student who worked closely with
McBane in the marketing department and who is now a
doctoral student at Mississippi State University.
Williams credits McBane for encouraging him to pursue
graduate school.
“After my initial doctoral interview at Mississippi State,
it was late but I called Don to tell him how well it went,”
said Williams. “I could hear the excitement in his voice;
he was excited because I was excited.”
His professional involvement included activity with the
American Marketing Association, Beta Gamma Sigma,
the Provost’s Committee on Public Broadcasting, and the
Public Broadcasting Senate Committee.
“We were lucky to have him because he was a leading
authority on the use of personality testing to select
and train new product engineers, and his research was
nationally recognized,” said Divine. “His consulting
services were in high demand by many Fortune 500
firms such as Dow Corning and General Motors.”
Burley began teaching at CMU in 1975. In addition to
teaching, he was active in video production projects
featuring firms such as The Pebble Beach Company,
General Motors, and the Whirlpool Corporation, and he
owned and operated an audio-file stereo business. He
was a dedicated CMU Athletics supporter who was
often seen cheering on the Chippewas and sharing his
passion for the university with recruits.
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