WE MOURN A FALLEN HERO

In November we shared with you our pride in DRO editor Jeff Burk's nephew being awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his service as an Army medic in Iraq. Now we share the heart-breaking news that Taylor Joseph Burk, 21, was killed Jan. 26, 2005 in Baghdad when a roadside bomb exploded near the vehicle in which he was riding.

Our condolences go out to the entire Burk family and especially Taylor's parents, Tim Burk and Tracy Preddy, his sister Julie Burk, his half-sisters Heather Falconer and Heidi AuCoin, and his half-brothers Matthew Burk and Wheeler Preddy. [2-1-2005]

IVO MAKES HALL OF FAME

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Drag racing legend Tommy Ivo has been selected for induction into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. The ceremony is scheduled for Aug. 18 at the Novi, Michigan Hall of Fame. Ivo, 70, was a child actor in the late 1940s and early '50s, earning the nickname "TV Tommy."

He later moved into the southern California hot rod scene, where he drove some vehicles with innovative designs. He combined both of his loves with a few hot rod movies, notably "The Ghost of Dragstrip Hollow" and (the Agent's favorite) "Bikini Beach." One extra bit of trivia: he was the stunt driver for Bonnie Bedelia who played Shirley Muldowney in "Heart Like a Wheel." (Tim Marshall photo) [2-1-2005]