Irvine adds Tim Burt’s name to Wall of Recognition

Irvine Mayor Steven Choi, left, shares a laugh with Wall of Recognition recipient Tim Burt, a sports writer for the Irvine World News and The Orange County Register, during Tuesday's City Council meeting.
Tim Burt, Orange County Register reporter, and Register editor Susan Vardon hug after he received a certificate and plaque for being a Wall of Recognition honoree Tuesday at the Irvine Civic Center. Burt said he is grateful to all the editors he works with at the Santa Ana-based newspaper.
Gabriel Calderon of Santa Ana, left, gives Wall of Recognition recipient and neighbor Tim Burt, Orange County Register reporter, a congratulatory hug after the ceremony held at the Irvine Civic Center.
Wall of Recognition recipient Tim Burt, Orange County Register reporter, left, and the other honorees were recognized Tuesday for their leadership and selfless acts. The city's Wall of Recognition will be at the adjacent Colonel Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial Park.
Wall of Recognition honorees in first two rows include Tim Burt, Orange County Register reporter, second from left in second row, at the Irvine Civic Center Tuesday where they were recognized for their community leadership.
Tim Burt, third from left, is supported by his Orange County Register family, present and past, along with his family, not pictured. Burt was honored for his 32-year career as a local sports writer with the Irvine World News and Orange County Register. "Thank you to all the editors, photographers, designers and graphics people who make our website look great," Burt says.
Deslie Burt and husband Randy, from left, came from their Culver City home to support Randy's older brother/Orange County Register sports reporter Tim Burt. "We've always knew Tim was great. It's nice to know that everyone feels the same way. Tim always had vision and wanted to be a sports writer since he was young. He used to bring his typewriter to the games, " Steve Burt of Garden Grove, right, says. They joined the Wall of Recognition recipient's celebration Tuesday at the Irvine Civic Center.
Wall of Recognition honorees include Tim Burt, Orange County Register reporter, left in second row, at the Irvine Civic Center Tuesday where the Irvine movers and shakers were recognized for their community leadership.
Wall of Recognition recipient Tim Burt, Orange County Register reporter, looks towards the audience where his two younger brothers, his sister-in-law, co-workers and other fans supported the popular reporter whose been in the business for 32 years.

May 25, 2016 at 1:50 p.m.

The Register’s Tim Burt was one of 15 people honored Tuesday in Irvine by having their name added to the city’s Wall of Recognition.

Here are photos from the event and a story the Register wrote about Burt this week:

IRVINE – Longtime Irvine World News sports reporter Tim Burt, who joined the newspaper as sports editor 32 years ago this month, is among the honorees set to be added to the city of Irvine’s Wall of Recognition on Tuesday.

The City Council in 2007 established a policy intended to recognize community leaders, which led to the establishment of the Wall of Recognition at Bill Barber Park near City Hall.

At a dedication in 2008, founding community leaders were honored for their contributions.

The wall is meant to symbolize the “spirit of activism, involvement and pride” that has shaped Irvine since its inception in 1971.

Todd Harmonson, who this month was named senior editor of the Orange County Register, has worked with Burt since Harmonson became editor of the paper’s OC Varsity section in 2006.

“Tim affectionately is known as the ‘Mayor of Irvine’ because of all he has done in his coverage of the city,” he said. “If he actually ever ran for office, my guess is he’d win in a landslide.”

Burt was nominated by Councilman Jeff Lalloway.

“It is hard to imagine how many games he has attended and how many great athletic moments he has witnessed during his career,” Lalloway said. “Tim is an institution in our city, writing about Irvine youth sports for a generation. His in-depth reporting on Irvine youth sports has reflected the significance of sports for Irvine’s young adults.”

Any individual, group, organization or business may submit up to three nominations annually.

A ceremony recognizing the latest batch of honorees is today at City Hall, at the start of the 5 p.m. City Council meeting. A reception for those whose names are being added to the wall will precede the presentation.

The recognition comes one year after Beckman High School baseball coach Kevin Lavalle and other area coaches decided to replace the plaque typically received by the baseball team that tops the Pacific Coast League with a trophy named after Burt.

“If there’s anyone in this area that deserves to have a sports trophy named after him, it’s Tim,” Lavalle said at the time.

Burt’s name will join dozens of business leaders, public servants, military members and educators on the Wall of Recognition.

Contact the writer: sdecrescenzo@ocregister.com