Floyd "Mike" McBurney imageMany in the UW-Madison community are familiar with the McBurney Disability Resource Center, but fewer may know about the remarkable UW Law School graduate for whom it was named. A new exhibit at the UW Law Library explores the life and lasting impact of Floyd “Mike” McBurney (Class of 1963).

After sustaining a cervical spinal cord injury in a diving accident at age 16, McBurney adapted to new ways of learning and studying. He graduated at the top of his class from Madison West High School in 1955 through an innovative arrangement that allowed him to study from a hospital bed with family members assisting with page-turning.

McBurney went on to excel at UW-Madison, completing his undergraduate coursework through a mix of in-person classes and correspondence study. Using a custom device that enabled him to type, he graduated in the top 5% of his class in 1960 with a sociology degree before immediately enrolling in law school.

The Advocate editorAt UW Law School, McBurney thrived academically while pushing for greater campus accessibility. He served as Articles Editor of the Wisconsin Law Review and Editor of The Advocate, the law school’s student publication. Graduating third in his class in 1963, he was inducted into the Order of the Coif and twice received awards for best Law Review student note.

Beyond his academic achievements, McBurney worked with Business School Professor James Graaskamp to advocate for campus-wide accessibility improvements. Their efforts led to groundbreaking state legislation in 1963 requiring public buildings to be accessible to everyone.

After graduation, McBurney built a multi-faceted legal career, practicing law while engaging in public service. Known for his wit, he often joked that he was “the only lawyer in town who travels by truck,” referring to his adapted van. He served as secretary of the Dane County Bar Association and was elected Dane County District Attorney in 1966. Sadly, his promising career was cut short by his death in 1967 at age 29.McBurney legal career

The McBurney Center, established in 1977, carries forward his vision of full educational access and inclusion. Today, it serves thousands of UW-Madison students, including nearly 1,000 law students.

Stop by the Law Library to learn more about this influential Law School graduate whose advocacy helped transform accessibility on campus and throughout the State of Wisconsin. The exhibit will be on display through the fall semester.  The exhibit text is available online.