Texas Woman's University Athletics

Burrhus was an outstanding student-athlete in seven different sports at TWU. For her achievements in track & field, swimming, field hockey, volleyball, basketball, badminton and softball, she received the All-Around Athlete Award in 1969.

She was a member of TWU’s first Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) National Championship track & field team in 1969. Burrhus didn’t participate in track in high school but competed in numerous events at TWU. She battled in the hurdles, high jump, long jump, relays (4x100, 4x400, 4x200-meter and medley), javelin, 400-meters and 200-meters. As a captain, she medaled in all the events.

“I loved being part of the 1969 National Championship team. It was a team effort,” Burrhus said. “I didn’t run track in high school so competing for Dr. (Bert) Lyle was all new to me.”

Burrhus also co-captained the basketball team at TWU through the evolution of the game from half-court to rover to five-player. After winning a high school state championship in half-court, Burrhus was the rover and able to play offense and defense at TWU. Her former basketball coach, Jo Kuhn, said, “Paulette was the most gifted natural athlete I ever coached.”

Burrhus earned a bachelor’s degree in health, physical education and recreation in 1969. She completed her master’s degree at TWU in 1974 in physical education with an emphasis in exercise physiology.

After teaching and coaching throughout her career, Burrhus changed gears in 2000. She earned her computer literacy certificate and was named the director of technology in the Vidor Independent School District. She retired in 2003 and resides in Beaumont, Texas.