Product Description
by Suzanne Greene (Illustrator), Leland E. Burch (Author)
The third book in the 'Center of the Universe' trilogy, a collection of the best award-winning Off the Record columns written by Leland E. Burch during his career as editor of "The Greer Citizen," a weekly newspaper published in South Carolina. Burch found humor in seemingly mundane daily living activities that often included surprising outcomes, and he shared them with readers over a period of 25 years. The variety of topics range from grumpy old men, to women's fashions, to spoiled grandparents, to getting health care and beyond.
Author Biography
Leland E. Burch grew up in Greer, S.C., moving to the community with his family when his father, the late Edd A. Burch, purchased The Greer Citizen newspaper in 1942. As a student, Burch walked to Greer High School-it was across the street from his home. After graduating from Wofford College in 1961, Burch returned to Greer and married his high school sweetheart, Margaret Griffin. The Burches raised four sons, Eddie, Joey, Preston and John David, in the First Presbyterian Church. Margaret Burch represented the greater Greer community as an elected trustee on the Greenville County School Board for 20 years, 1982-2002, and served as the board's first female chairman. She chaired the Greater Greer Education Foundation for five years, 2009-14. Leland Burch began his journalism career at The Greer Citizen as sports editor and eventually added the duties of news editor and photographer. He became editor of the newspaper in 1985 when his father passed away. Burch also took over writing "Off the Record," a humorous editorial page column that his father had had started. Over the years, both the newspaper and Burch's "Off the Record" columns won numerous awards in SC Press Association competitions. Since retiring, he has compiled a number of the columns into three books. Since joining The First Presbyterian Church in 1961, Leland Burch began the youth basketball program, taught Sunday School, served as a Deacon and Elder and was a member of three Pastor Nominating Committees. Burch has served as a member of the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport Commission since 1985. He is a member of the Greer Christian Learning Center Board of Directors and serves on the Greer Chamber of Commerce Legislative Action Committee. Burch is a member and Past President of the Greer Lions Club and the SC Rose Society and was a founding board member of the Greer Heritage Museum.
