Longtime City of Newburgh resident and Newburgh Track and Field Coach Malcolm Burks, joined by his wife Felicia Hodges-Burks, family, friends, mentors, community members and current and former athletes was presented with a key to the city on behalf of City Council on Monday, Dec. 12.

A 1979 graduate of Newburgh Free Academy, alumni of William Paterson University in New Jersey and United States Army servicemember, Burks has been coaching track and field at NFA for the past 24 years and also coaches the Newburgh Elite Track Club. During the course of his military career, Burks has coached Army athletes in Korea, Germany and California. He has coached 45 years as of now.

Following his career overseas, Burks was transferred to West Point and joined the NFA coaching staff in 1999. During his time at NFA, many of Burks’ athletes have gone on to top ranked schools across the country and have broken many high school track and field records.

Current and past members of the Newburgh track and field team along with Newburgh Free Academy [NFA] Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps [ROTC] Cadets who Burks teaches at the high school came out and chanted for their coach and mentor as he received his award. Burks’ most recent recognition was the receipt of a letter to be inducted into the Armory’s High School Coaches Hall of Fame. His induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, December 17 at the Coaches Hall of Fame Invitational Track Meet. The meet will be at the New York Armory Track and Field Center in Manhattan.