Big Country community hosts benefit tournament for family after sudden loss

BIG COUNTRY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – After the sudden death of Batjer Associates employee Dusty Burleson, the company is hosting a soft-pitch softball tournament to raise funds for his family.

When we die, it’s impossible to know the impact we had on others in our lives. However, the impact of one Big County natives sudden passing is sending ripples of support from across the state. Dusty Burleson was a seemingly everyday Big Country resident who loved his family and his community, and recently, at the age of 39, suffered a random and severe brain hemorrhage that took his life, leaving behind his wife and two young children.

As his brother, Captain Burleson, sits on his porch swing with his young daughter, he recalls fond memories of his older brother Dusty.

“There’s nothing you can say. There’s no magic switch that can just make this better. Being able to spend time with the folks who are grieving, too, is a gift. He could have single-handedly conquered the world, but he was so stinkin’ content and satisfied with his family, with his babies, with his wife, with us…  that that was his world,” Burleson shared.

Dusty’s love for his world transferred to his work at Batjer Associates, where he spent the last 20 years as a model employee. Since his passing, Batjer Associates has organized the Dusty Burleson Memorial Softball Tournament, where all proceeds will go directly towards his family. Former co-worker and one of the organizers of the tournament, Zach Shelton, spoke to their surprise at the statewide response to this benefit tournament, which is now sponsored by the Monster Energy Drink Company.

“Our daughters actually played on Dusty’s daughters’ team, and that’s how we kind of knew. We have some really good teams coming in from the Metroplex as well. We have a lot of good local teams. But it just seems that when we put the word out and all the teams really just signed up as fast as possible to do everything they could to help,” Shelton explained.

Although Dusty may not have been a large public figure in the community, Dusty’s love, personality and overall kindness will be held dearly by the people who knew him best. The Dusty Burleson Memorial Softball Tournament will be held Saturday, September 20, at the Hanner Sports Complex in Clyde. This is an all-day tournament set to begin at 8:00 a.m., and the public is invited to come free of charge.