Tom Burnett
Encyclopedia
Thomas Edward Burnett, Jr. (May 29, 1963 – September 11, 2001) was the vice-president and chief operating officer
of Thoratec Corporation, a medical devices company based in Pleasanton
, California
. He resided in San Ramon
, California.
On September 11, 2001, Burnett was a passenger on board United Airlines Flight 93
, which was hijacked as part of the September 11 attacks. He died when the plane crashed into a field near Shanksville
, Pennsylvania
.
in Bloomington
, Minnesota
, in 1981, after leading the school's football team to the state semi-finals as their starting quarterback. His football jersey, No. 10, is now retired at his former high school.
Burnett studied economics at Saint John's University in Minnesota. After two years, an injury shortened his football career and he transferred to the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. He was named president of the Alpha Kappa Psi
fraternity, then later graduated with a B.S. degree in Finance. He went on to earn a Master of Business Administration
at Pepperdine University
.
, Burnett called his wife four times on an airphone after hijackers took control of the plane.
Burnett and other passengers had been in communication with people via airphones and cell phones and learned that the World Trade Center
had been hit using hijacked airplanes. Burnett was among the passengers who decided to attempt to foil the hijacking of Flight 93. While doing so, the plane crashed into a field in rural Pennsylvania.
Burnett called his wife, Deena, and reportedly told her, "We're all going to die, but three of us are going to do something." He is survived by his wife and three daughters, Halley, Madison, and Anna Clare. He is also survived by a biological daughter, Mariah Mills, that he and his college girlfriend gave up for adoption in 1985. Mills now has a relationship with Deena and her three half-sisters.
Deena Burnett co-authored a book with Anthony Giombetti entitled Fighting Back: Living Life Beyond Ourselves. The book is published by Advantage Inspirational and was released in July 2006. Fighting Back recounts the difficulties in getting the FBI to release cockpit voice recorder
tapes from United 93 to the public, and includes Deena Burnett's thoughts on the nature of heroism.
Burnett was posthumously awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award
in 2002. Also in that same year, a street in Pleasanton, California, where he worked for Thoratec Corporation, was renamed Tom Burnett Lane, commemorating his actions on Flight 93. There is also a memorial called Hero's Garden at Pepperdine University's Graziadio School of Business and Management in Burnett's honor. A post office in his hometown of Bloomington, Minnesota was renamed the Thomas E. Burnett, Jr. Post Office and his former middle school, Oak Grove Middle School in Bloomington, encourages eighth-grade students to participate in an annual Tom Burnett Day of Service.
In 2008, Thoratec Europe Limited, Thoratec Corporation's European distribution arm based in Great Britain, moved its headquarters to new premises in Huntingdon
, Cambridgeshire. The building was renamed Burnett House in tribute.
The California State Assembly
renamed the Fostoria Way overcrossing over Interstate 680
in San Ramon
the Thomas E. Burnett Jr. Memorial Bridge in his honor.
Chief operating officer
A Chief Operating Officer or Director of Operations can be one of the highest-ranking executives in an organization and comprises part of the "C-Suite"...
of Thoratec Corporation, a medical devices company based in Pleasanton
Pleasanton, California
Pleasanton is a city in Alameda County, California, incorporated in 1894. It is a suburb in the San Francisco Bay Area located about east of Oakland, and west of Livermore. The population was 70,285 at the 2010 census. In 2005 and 2007, Pleasanton was ranked the wealthiest middle-sized city in...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He resided in San Ramon
San Ramon, California
-2010 census:The 2010 United States Census reported that San Ramon had a population of 72,148. The population density was 3,991.1 people per square mile...
, California.
On September 11, 2001, Burnett was a passenger on board United Airlines Flight 93
United Airlines Flight 93
United Airlines Flight 93 was United Airlines' scheduled morning transcontinental flight across the United States from Newark International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco International Airport in California. On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, the Boeing 757–222 aircraft operating the...
, which was hijacked as part of the September 11 attacks. He died when the plane crashed into a field near Shanksville
Shanksville, Pennsylvania
Shanksville is a borough in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a population of 245, as of the 2000 census. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area and is approximately 60 miles southeast from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Biography
Burnett graduated from Thomas Jefferson Senior High SchoolBloomington Jefferson High School
For schools with a similar name, see Jefferson High School.Thomas Jefferson Senior High School is one of the two high schools in Bloomington, MN, USA Independent School District No. 271. It is located on at 102nd Street and France Avenue on the suburb's southwest side. About 1,600 students attend...
in Bloomington
Bloomington, Minnesota
Bloomington is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota in Hennepin County. Located on the north bank of the Minnesota River above its confluence with the Mississippi River, Bloomington lies at the heart of the southern...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, in 1981, after leading the school's football team to the state semi-finals as their starting quarterback. His football jersey, No. 10, is now retired at his former high school.
Burnett studied economics at Saint John's University in Minnesota. After two years, an injury shortened his football career and he transferred to the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. He was named president of the Alpha Kappa Psi
Alpha Kappa Psi
ΑΚΨ is the oldest and largest professional business fraternity. The Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity was founded on October 5, 1904 at New York University, and was incorporated on May 20, 1905...
fraternity, then later graduated with a B.S. degree in Finance. He went on to earn a Master of Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
at Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University is an independent, private, medium-sized university affiliated with the Churches of Christ. The university's campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean in unincorporated Los Angeles County, California, United States, near Malibu, is the location for Seaver College, the School of...
.
Flight 93
On September 11, 2001, while on board United Airlines Flight 93United Airlines Flight 93
United Airlines Flight 93 was United Airlines' scheduled morning transcontinental flight across the United States from Newark International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco International Airport in California. On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, the Boeing 757–222 aircraft operating the...
, Burnett called his wife four times on an airphone after hijackers took control of the plane.
Burnett and other passengers had been in communication with people via airphones and cell phones and learned that the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
had been hit using hijacked airplanes. Burnett was among the passengers who decided to attempt to foil the hijacking of Flight 93. While doing so, the plane crashed into a field in rural Pennsylvania.
Burnett called his wife, Deena, and reportedly told her, "We're all going to die, but three of us are going to do something." He is survived by his wife and three daughters, Halley, Madison, and Anna Clare. He is also survived by a biological daughter, Mariah Mills, that he and his college girlfriend gave up for adoption in 1985. Mills now has a relationship with Deena and her three half-sisters.
Deena Burnett co-authored a book with Anthony Giombetti entitled Fighting Back: Living Life Beyond Ourselves. The book is published by Advantage Inspirational and was released in July 2006. Fighting Back recounts the difficulties in getting the FBI to release cockpit voice recorder
Cockpit voice recorder
A cockpit voice recorder , often referred to as a "black box", is a flight recorder used to record the audio environment in the flight deck of an aircraft for the purpose of investigation of accidents and incidents...
tapes from United 93 to the public, and includes Deena Burnett's thoughts on the nature of heroism.
Burnett was posthumously awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award
Arthur Ashe Courage Award
The Arthur Ashe Courage Award is an award that is part of the ESPY Awards. Although it is a sport-oriented award, it is not limited to sports-related people or actions.-List of recipients:-External links:***...
in 2002. Also in that same year, a street in Pleasanton, California, where he worked for Thoratec Corporation, was renamed Tom Burnett Lane, commemorating his actions on Flight 93. There is also a memorial called Hero's Garden at Pepperdine University's Graziadio School of Business and Management in Burnett's honor. A post office in his hometown of Bloomington, Minnesota was renamed the Thomas E. Burnett, Jr. Post Office and his former middle school, Oak Grove Middle School in Bloomington, encourages eighth-grade students to participate in an annual Tom Burnett Day of Service.
In 2008, Thoratec Europe Limited, Thoratec Corporation's European distribution arm based in Great Britain, moved its headquarters to new premises in Huntingdon
Huntingdon
Huntingdon is a market town in Cambridgeshire, England. The town was chartered by King John in 1205. It is the traditional county town of Huntingdonshire, and is currently the seat of the Huntingdonshire district council. It is known as the birthplace in 1599 of Oliver Cromwell.-History:Huntingdon...
, Cambridgeshire. The building was renamed Burnett House in tribute.
The California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
renamed the Fostoria Way overcrossing over Interstate 680
Interstate 680 (California)
Interstate 680 is a north–south Interstate Highway in Northern California. It curves around the eastern cities of the San Francisco Bay Area from San Jose to Interstate 80 at Cordelia, bypassing cities along the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay such as Oakland and Richmond while serving...
in San Ramon
San Ramon, California
-2010 census:The 2010 United States Census reported that San Ramon had a population of 72,148. The population density was 3,991.1 people per square mile...
the Thomas E. Burnett Jr. Memorial Bridge in his honor.