Gregory Burgin, Sr.

Gregory Clay Burgin Sr. was born December 2, 1951 to the union of DeLois M. Jones-Wright and the late William A. Burgin Sr. in Wichita, Kansas. He received his early education in that city. After high school, he moved to Denver, Colorado and received his certification as a draftsman. He formed a drafting business named Quickdraw with his brother Raymond and was quite successful at that venture. At a young age he became the father of a son Jeffrey Carroll whose mother is Ertis Barnes. He met and married Phyllis Love and became the father of four children, Shaynee, Gregory Jr., Carol and Peter. Later, he became the father of Maxwell whose mother is Elizabeth Young. He was proud of and loved all of his children. Greg's interest in the entertainment industry started by following in the footsteps of his brother-in-law Richard Smart, who was Wichita's local band leader with the Smart Brothers Band, a promoter, a music store, club and restaurant owner. "He was the first black DJ in Wichita, Kansas under the name "Dick Smart". Greg wanted to be just like him. Richard taught him how to play bass guitar, took him to the radio station and trained him in radio announcing and disc jockeying at the age of 16. Because of Greg's "gift of gab" Richard would have him come back to Wichita from Denver to help promote dances and concerts of well-known entertainers. As a result of this Greg started his own promotional company Roadway Productions. From there he brought in many entertainers such as: The Stylistics, Ohio Players, King Floyd and Marvin Gaye just to name a few. Greg became the youngest disc jockey at KBPI radio station in Denver going by the name of "Birdman", during the same time as local disc jockey "Sweet Lee". Greg moved his family to California in 1982. There he established his career in the auto industry. He was a member of the Toyota Sales Society. In every dealership he worked, he was Salesman-of–the-Month every month. Greg also became a top sales manager for Toyota of Orange, Inc. On January 8, 1999 he married Ruby Harvey. Ruby stated, "One of the most beautiful things he gave me was a big beautiful family. What I loved about him the most was his sense of humor, he was my personal comedian". With music being his first love, some of his other interest and hobbies were Bingo, dominoes, fashion (He loved to dress and dressed well) and road trips to see his family. He was preceded in death by his father William A. Burgin Sr. Those left to cherish his memory and mourn this loss includes his wife, Ruby J. Harvey-Burgin, Orange CA.; his mother, DeLois Washington, Denver CO.; sons, Jeffrey Carroll, Denver CO., Gregory C. Burgin Jr. and Peter J. Burgin, Orange CA., Maxwell J. Burgin, Carson CA.; daughters, Shaynee L. (Robert) Howard, Florence AZ., Carol E. (Josh) Martin, Huntington Beach CA., Tonya D. Harvey-Hammond, Fort Worth TX.; brothers, John K. (Ruby) Wright, William A. (Ruby) Burgin Jr., Wichita KS., Raymond E. Burgin, Denver CO.; sisters, Carol E. (Richard) Smart, Wichita KS., Sheila L. Jones, Denver CO., Vicki R. Burgin- (Emmett) Briggs, Anaheim CA., Tarlena S. Burgin, Aurora CO.; 24 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral Home: Pipkin Braswell Funerals and Cremations - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Visitation: 6/20/2014 at 4:00 PM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Service: 6/21/2014 at 10:00 AM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - Denver, CO
Cemetery: 6/21/2014 - Following the Celebration of Life Crown Hill Cemetery - 7777 West 29th Avenue Wheat Ridge, CO