Lamar honors Burgess with scholarship

Lamar University joined the Beaumont Foundation of America in announcing the seventh in a series of Southeast Texas Legends Scholarships benefiting Lamar students.

The foundation's $100,000 gift to the university honored Judge Don Burgess, whose distinguished legal career includes two decades as an associate justice of the 9th Court of Appeals, as well as tenure as a district judge and prosecutor in Orange County. He is a longtime resident of Bridge City, where he spent two years in private practice of law.

While serving on the 9th Court, Burgess participated in about 12,000 cases, of which he was personally responsible for opinions in more than 4,500.

When he retired from the court and took senior status in 2005, he was the senior appellate judge in the state, having first won election at age 31.

Burgess now serves as senior district and appellate judge in the Second Administrative Judicial Region.

He is also known as an avid supporter of Lamar athletics, including service as president of the Cardinal Club.

Burgess served 32 years in the Army Reserve and retired as a colonel in the Judge Advocate General's Corps.