George A. Burton
Encyclopedia
George Aubrey Burton, Jr. (born June 21, 1926), is a Certified Public Accountant
and the last elected finance commissioner in Shreveport
. Burton is the first Republican
since Reconstruction to have been elected to municipal office in Shreveport, having served as finance commissioner from 1971-1978. He was also president of the Caddo Parish Board of Election Supervisors.
to George A. Burton, Sr. (1903–1980) and the former Theo Simmons (1908–1983). The Burtons resided in Alexandria
relocating to Shreveport in 1936, when George was ten. Burton's grandfather was a railroad employee, and his father was secretary-treasurer of Cahn Electric Company in Shreveport.
In 1941, Burton graduated from C.E. Byrd High School in Shreveport at age 15. He enlisted in the United States Navy
and entered the Seabees, serving in the Central Pacific
theater of World War II
from 1943-1946. He obtained a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Centenary College
in Shreveport and passed the C.P.A. examination in 1952.
In September 1971, Shreveport Finance Commissioner Dwight E. Saur (a Democrat) died after serving less than a year of his term. Burton won a special election to fill the remaining three years of the term. Despite his overt Republicanism, Burton carved his niche with his Democratic
colleagues. In 1974, Burton was reelected finance commissioner with 17,488 votes (68.8 percent) over Democrat (later Republican) David R. Carroll (1926-2011), a Mississippi
native and a Caddo Parish police juror, received 7,938 ballots (31.2 percent). That year, Burton had the tacit support of Democratic Mayor Littleberry Calhoun Allen, Jr.
, who won a second term. Under the commission form of government then in effect, the mayor was technically the "commissioner of administration."
Running with Burton in 1974 was another Republican, Billy J. Guin, waging his second campaign against the late Public Utilities Commissioner William "Bill" Collins. Guin drew 43 percent of the vote. Collins resigned near the end of his second term, and Guin won the seat in a 1977 special election. Guin was in effect only the second Republican in modern times to hold municipal office in Shreveport.
, Mississippi
and Memphis
, Tennessee
, before her parents, William and Lucille Cunningham, moved to Shreveport. The couple had two children, son George A. Burton, III (1948–2010), a poet in Shreveport, and wife Melissa Fowle Burton, and daughter Sandra Burton "Sandy" Batten (born 1950), wife of Rick Alan Batten (born 1954) of Maumelle
, near Little Rock
, Arkansas. After Joan's death, Burton married Gloria Brantley (born 1930), the widow of Bernard Garvin (1927–1997) of Shreveport.
Burton is a charter member of the Shreveport Sertoma Club and was active in the Jaycees
as the Shreveport president, state vice president, and a national directorn. Burton is Methodist.
Certified Public Accountant
Certified Public Accountant is the statutory title of qualified accountants in the United States who have passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and have met additional state education and experience requirements for certification as a CPA...
and the last elected finance commissioner in Shreveport
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
. Burton is the first Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
since Reconstruction to have been elected to municipal office in Shreveport, having served as finance commissioner from 1971-1978. He was also president of the Caddo Parish Board of Election Supervisors.
Early years, education, military
Born in TexarkanaTexarkana, Arkansas
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,448 people, 10,384 households, and 7,040 families residing in the city. The population density was 830.5 people per square mile . There were 11,721 housing units at an average density of 368.1 per square mile...
to George A. Burton, Sr. (1903–1980) and the former Theo Simmons (1908–1983). The Burtons resided in Alexandria
Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes....
relocating to Shreveport in 1936, when George was ten. Burton's grandfather was a railroad employee, and his father was secretary-treasurer of Cahn Electric Company in Shreveport.
In 1941, Burton graduated from C.E. Byrd High School in Shreveport at age 15. He enlisted in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and entered the Seabees, serving in the Central Pacific
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
theater of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
from 1943-1946. He obtained a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Centenary College
Centenary College of Louisiana
Centenary College of Louisiana is a primarily undergraduate, liberal arts and sciences college in Shreveport, Louisiana. The college is one of the founding members of the Associated Colleges of the South, a pedagogical organization consisting of sixteen Southern liberal arts colleges...
in Shreveport and passed the C.P.A. examination in 1952.
Burton runs for office
A lifelong Republican he ran unsuccessfully for Caddo Parish School Board.In September 1971, Shreveport Finance Commissioner Dwight E. Saur (a Democrat) died after serving less than a year of his term. Burton won a special election to fill the remaining three years of the term. Despite his overt Republicanism, Burton carved his niche with his Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
colleagues. In 1974, Burton was reelected finance commissioner with 17,488 votes (68.8 percent) over Democrat (later Republican) David R. Carroll (1926-2011), a Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
native and a Caddo Parish police juror, received 7,938 ballots (31.2 percent). That year, Burton had the tacit support of Democratic Mayor Littleberry Calhoun Allen, Jr.
Calhoun Allen
Littleberry Calhoun Allen, Jr. , was from 1970 to 1978 a two-term Democratic mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana, the state's third largest city. From 1962-1970, he was the municipal public utilities commissioner. He also served some two months as a "District B" city council member after his election in...
, who won a second term. Under the commission form of government then in effect, the mayor was technically the "commissioner of administration."
Running with Burton in 1974 was another Republican, Billy J. Guin, waging his second campaign against the late Public Utilities Commissioner William "Bill" Collins. Guin drew 43 percent of the vote. Collins resigned near the end of his second term, and Guin won the seat in a 1977 special election. Guin was in effect only the second Republican in modern times to hold municipal office in Shreveport.
Family and civic commitments
Burton married the former Joan (pronouned JO ANN) Cunningham (1928–2002), who lived in AmoryAmory, Mississippi
Amory is a city in Monroe County, Mississippi, United States. The population is 6,956 as of the 2000 census.-History:Amory was the first planned city in Mississippi. The Kansas City, Memphis & Birmingham Railroad needed a mid-point between Memphis, Tennessee and Birmingham, Alabama for their...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
and Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, before her parents, William and Lucille Cunningham, moved to Shreveport. The couple had two children, son George A. Burton, III (1948–2010), a poet in Shreveport, and wife Melissa Fowle Burton, and daughter Sandra Burton "Sandy" Batten (born 1950), wife of Rick Alan Batten (born 1954) of Maumelle
Maumelle, Arkansas
Maumelle is a city in Pulaski County, Arkansas, United States and a suburb of Little Rock. Founded by Jess Odom with federal assistance from the Urban Growth and New Community Development Act, it is a master-planned community....
, near Little Rock
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
, Arkansas. After Joan's death, Burton married Gloria Brantley (born 1930), the widow of Bernard Garvin (1927–1997) of Shreveport.
Burton is a charter member of the Shreveport Sertoma Club and was active in the Jaycees
Junior Chamber International
Junior Chamber International is the only worldwide non-political and non-sectarian youth service organization. It is an international community of citizens between the ages of to with the aim and purpose of creating positive changes in the world...
as the Shreveport president, state vice president, and a national directorn. Burton is Methodist.
See also
John McW. FordJohn McW. Ford
John McWilliams Ford was the longest-serving elected public official in Shreveport, Louisiana. Though he served as mayor only from 1918–1922, it was his tenure as finance commissioner that is most remembered for longevity -- from 1930 until his death...