Prof. Burton Fletcher, J.D. (Ret.)
Attorney, Altruist, and Man of Faith
Professor Burton Fletcher (Ret.) is one of those rare human beings who comes along and lives his life. Not just lives in a self-determinative sense but lives in the fullest sense of the word. Truly living one’s life is dependent upon the nature of one’s character, the nature of one’s choices on a disciplined, daily basis, and the nature of one’s ability to look and extend themselves beyond the immediacies of their own person. Burton not only excels in this, but it also comes to him naturally. Part of this may have to do with his background.
Burton is the son of hardworking farmers. He was raised in a family that valued morals, one’s self-worth, and the love of family. In a decidedly anti-cliché from the typical rags-to-riches story, Burton’s upbringing was a source of his greatest accomplishments, not something he ran away from or eschewed. It served as the pillar for his attaining long-lasting and widespread success in his adult years.
Burton Fletcher was a Vietnam era veteran, achieving the rank of corporal during his three-year service in the United States Marine Corps. Afterwards, he graduated from the University of West Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing, with honors, subsequently receiving an MBA in Business Administration before going on to receiving his Juris Doctor, with honors, from Western State University College of Law in Fullerton, California.
In the fall of 1980, Burton assumed the professorial role of classroom instructor in Management, Marketing, and Law at El Camino College in Torrance. Concurrent to his teaching at El Camino College, Fletcher became a licensed attorney and started the firm Fletcher & Associates – assisting thousands of Los Angeles clientele with personal and consumer injury cases, as well as civil injustices.
Outside of his professional world, Burton Fletcher’s advocacy and community service matched the heft and consideration of his career-based achievements. Burton was a member of notable organizations such as the Center for Prevention of Child Abuse, the West Los Angeles College Paralegal Advisory Board, and the South Bay Children’s Health Center. He would later become a staunch advocate for the Democratic Party, and stalwart critic of the modern-day Republican Party and Republican Party affiliates, such as Fox News and Newsmax TV, referring to them as ‘propaganda’ networks.
Burton was also an advocate for the fostering and adoption of animals, deriving great joy from his canine friends, and during his lifetime adopting numerous special companions. Burton Fletcher’s estate has fittingly created the Burton Fletcher Foundation for Animals, Inc.
Someone like Burton Fletcher, who worked his way up from nothing, is a standard-bearer and stark contrast in today’s world. He is passionate but never at the risk of being sardonic, a straight shooter who tells it like it is, but never with the absence of hope. A celebrated Los Angeles attorney, a decorated professor at El Camino College, a community leader, a man of devout, Christian faith, and a rare human being. He is an example of someone worthy of looking up to. Look around today and ask yourself, what can be better than that?