Bill Burnett, Ph.D., 78 of Springdale, Ark., passed away Saturday, July 4, 2026, at Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale. He was born January 11, 1948, in Ada, Oklahoma, to Clell Burnett and Frances Elsie (Myers) Burnett.
Bill was a native of Bentonville, Ark. He attended the University of Arkansas on a football scholarship earning his B.S.E. and M.Ed. degrees. He was an honors graduate, a member of ODK, academic All-American, president of his senior class, and awarded a postgraduate NCAA scholarship.
His athletic accomplishments included All-American, twice All-Southwest Conference, and was team captain of the 1970 Razorbacks. Bill still holds the career touchdown record for the UofA. He was inducted into U of A Hall of Fame in 1995, Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1996, and Southwest Conference Hall of Fame in 2015.
Bill’s legacy reached far beyond his short tenure as a Razorback player. He pioneered the Fellowship of Christian Athletes movement in Arkansas and opened a Crisis Pregnancy Center in Fort Smith as part of his spiritual calling.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Linda Burnett, two sons, Brian Burnett and his wife Kristy of Siloam Springs, Ark., John Mark Burnett and wife Michelle of Fayetteville, one daughter, Joy Burnett Irvin and her husband Christopher of Springdale, Ark., and nine grandchildren, Landon, Braden, Casen, Aiden, Ella Kate, Luke, Davis, Tyson, and Shelby.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 9, at Fellowship Bible in Fayetteville with Reverend Tommy Nelson officiating. Private burial will be held at Fairview Memorial Gardens in Fayetteville.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in Bill’s honor may be made to Northwest Arkansas Fellowship of Christian Athletes P.O. Box 34 Tontitown, AR 72770 or 1st Choice Pregnancy Medical Center, 4622 Grand Ave, Fort Smith, AR 72904.
More Reading
- Sports Illustrated: “Arkansas Fans Mourn Passing of Legendary Razorback Bill Burnett“
- Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: “Bill Burnett was a great Arkansas Razorback, better human being,” Wally Hall.